Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I agree with the Minister regarding privatisation. There should be no question of privatising water supplies.

On the matter of leaks in the system, when I first became a member of a local authority in Waterford more than 25 years ago, the council encouraged many of the people who had previously worked on the water supply to return and provide assistance. These individuals, who had retired from work, knew the exact locations of pipes, etc. This was probably the greatest thing we ever did because Waterford city now has the best water supply in the country. As a result of the expertise and experience of those to whom I refer, who provided advice to the council's officials and engineers, we were able to map the system properly and reduce obvious wastage. I am glad that provisions relating to the public ownership of supplies are contained in the Bill.