Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As a member of Clare County Council I had the opportunity to serve on the western river basin water consultation committee. This was a hugely enlightening experience which allowed us to develop a forensic knowledge of water pollution and the challenges facing the country in terms of producing purified water. There has been a proposal by Dublin City Council for some time to extract between 350 and 500 million litres of water per day from Lough Derg. While it sounds like a great idea in theory, in practice it certainly is not. Lough Derg is one of Ireland's most beautiful lakes, attracting thousands of fishermen, tourists and people who engage in water sports for several months of the year. In fact, water sports take place on the lake all year round.

Environmental groups argue, quite rightly, that the proposal, if implemented, will have a detrimental effect on the lake. From my work on the consultation committee I am of the view that it would be in breach of the European water framework directive. Greece has already been subject to a rebuke from the European Court of Justice for doing something similar with one of its beautiful lakes. Are we as a Government, and Dublin City Council as an arm of government, going to go down the same route and face being brought before the European Court of Justice and losing? The proposal is balderdash and should be taken off the agenda without delay. Will the Leader facilitate a general debate on water services, as already called for by colleagues, which would allow a mature and honest discussion on the future of the water supply to this city? We must not deconstruct one of the country's most beautiful lakes, with its enormous tourism potential, to facilitate the provision of water for this city, when alternative solutions are so readily available.