Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I welcome the Bill before the House and congratulate my constituency colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, on grasping the nettle and introducing the Water Services (Amendment) Bill. I am amazed that once again in this House we are seeing opposition for the sake of it from Fianna Fáil. Public health means nothing to Fianna Fáil members, they will just oppose everything.

The need to address the requirements of the European Court of Justice ruling against Ireland dates from 2009. However, Fianna Fáil and a Green Party Minister for the Environment were too cowardly to act to protect water quality and uphold Ireland's legal obligations.