Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I accept that but I want to put the Minister of State on notice. For many years we have been shovelling fluoride into water to make it more potable and kill off bacteria. Is that really the solution? There is a school of thought that we have the worst rate in Europe of adding fluoride to water. Studies in America and internationally have shown that this is not the answer. This was the case with previous governments here. I am deeply concerned about this. There is a growing debate about fluoridation. I live in Bantry and although technically the water is potable I have not drunk water from the mains system in Bantry for 20 years. Many people do not. They buy large containers of water. One man told me that when he poured the water from the tap into whiskey he could not taste the whiskey.

There is a broad issue about quality of water. If Irish Water does not address that it will hit the Minister of State, the Government or the officials responsible like a train. There was a public meeting in Bantry last Friday where very well-heeled people turned out. It is gathering momentum. Putting lots of fluoride into the water is like giving a fellow who has a bad back an injection to kill the pain which wears off after a few hours.

This may be more appropriate to sections 25 and 26 but I am putting the Minister of State on notice that I have deep personal concerns on this issue. We debated it here a few months ago. If we do not address that in this House it will be like a rolling stone coming down the track for the Minister of State for the water services.