Ivor Callely (Fianna Fail)

This is an interesting motion which warrants further debate and action. There is no doubt that certain elements of the motion and of the amendment should be actively pursued, progressed and reported on either to the House or a committee of the House.

Given the time restraints, I cannot deal in detail with every aspect of the motion so I will focus my contribution on the provision of water to the consumer, the current supply chain, further provision and likely demand, supply sources and the local authorities' strategic plans. I have raised these issues in the past and have referred to water as "the new oil". The local authorities must comply with regulations and standards in supplying water to consumers and the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, monitors and enforces such regulations and standards. I would appreciate if the Minister or his officials would send me a briefing document on who is responsible for what with regard to the water supply chain; what standards, regulation and or legislation apply at each level; and if there are any gaps.

The EPA protects our water through its licensing, enforcement and monitoring activities. The good status objective, as set out in the water framework directive, WFD, sets a clear target which this nation must achieve in water status by 2015. I was somewhat bemused by Senator Hayes and others who were indicating that it was one part of the Government that did a huge amount of work in recent weeks or months-----