Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, should attend the House to discuss water quality monitoring and safety. Yet again the water crisis has revisited us in Galway with a new outbreak in Clarenbridge. It was national news in Galway city and the hinterlands, including Knocknacarragh, but the issue has not yet been resolved. The latest outbreak of water pollution is likely to have a far wider national impact than it did in Galway. The HSE tests are proving to be so sensitive in Galway that contamination is being picked up, but the same level of testing may not be happening elsewhere in the country. I would appreciate if that issue could be addressed by the Minister and I ask the Deputy Leader to invite him to the House.

Senator Norris referred to the issue of Seanad reform. As a former councillor, I wish to state that councillors are a very real electorate. In the first instance, they are elected by upwards of 2,000 people which may be up to half the electorate that some people have to achieve in this House. They are in touch with people on the ground, which is local democracy in action. It is important to state that some Senators who have chosen to be elected through the Oireachtas route or via nominating bodies, could have chosen the university route.