Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have much respect for colleagues on the other side but I disagree with them on this issue. For every litre of water that is purified in this country, another litre is lost. That means that anything between 40% and 50% of water, which costs a fortune to cleanse, goes to waste. We must operate in a different and better manner, and we should act bravely. This project will define us as a nation because water is a scarce resource throughout the world. There are many countries, particularly on the African Continent, that would love to have our levels of water but much of this is wasted. It is a sinful waste in that context.

This new system may not be perfect but it will be a damn sight better than what is being done currently. That is not the fault of the thousands of employees in the various local authorities, and the problem is there is no joined up thinking. When an emergency arises, people must deal with scores of local authorities rather than one centralised body that can strategically think, plan and react. In that regard, the concept is good. Bord Gáis has been awarded the contract and the company can speak for itself; it has been remarkably successful in its work to date and the projects in which it has engaged.

I would prefer that the contract be given to a tried and tested organisation that has proven credibility than to put it out to tender and have to put it up on the EU tenders database from which process the contract may be given to a company from abroad, about which we know a little, purely on the basis of price. The right decision was made to give it to a tried, tested and proven indigenous company.