Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

It is welcome that Members will have a question and answer session this afternoon on the economy. People have little to speak of, except the banking system, unless they live in Galway and are at risk of lead poisoning. This is a highly serious matter in respect of people's health, about which they have genuine worries. Yesterday, a woman in Mervue spoke to me about a recent miscarriage and she now wonders whether it was linked to lead contamination in the water.

I urgently ask the Leader to invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government before the House to explain how he will guarantee the quality of drinking water, both nationally and in Galway. It is time he pulled out all the stops for Galway and outlined the measures and the clear oversight that now is required. The council has been caught on the back foot too many times in Galway in respect of cryptosporidium, e.coli and now lead poisoning. I implore the Leader to ensure this happens soon, as the public has lost all confidence in the quality of drinking water. Unfortunately, the emergency supply was unsafe last weekend. Regardless of whether it was safe, people have lost confidence and are buying water, which cannot continue. This has gone on for too long in Galway, which always is being reactive. I note this issue has been replicated elsewhere in respect of other public water supplies.