Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I call for a debate in this House on the severe water shortage affecting this city. I am deeply concerned about the abstraction of 350 million litres of water from Lough Ree as proposed by Dublin City Council. It would be a grave disservice to the people of the midlands were this to occur and it would severely upset not only the flora and fauna but also boat users and tourists. Given that it is a matter of economies of scale and cost, desalination would be the preferred option.