Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree with a great deal of Senator Whelan's comments. Regrettably, many of us did not get an opportunity to debate the matter yesterday. I was impressed by the Minister, Deputy Kelly. He spoke well and was clear in what he stated.

I wish to address a specific point on which I want to reconvene the debate. According to the Minister, "over 800 km of the water pipes in Dublin are well in excess of 100 years old." It seems absurd that Irish Water plans to assign to customers responsibility for what is primarily a Victorian piece of infrastructure that has many leaks and could develop further ones. Irish Water has stated that it will repair a leak for free on one occasion, after which the householder is on his or her own. Anyone selling something must warrant it, be it a car, a television or a foodstuff. This policy should also apply to Irish Water and oblige it to give a ten-year guarantee on older pipers. Topics like this one have not been discussed but need to be. Whatever went wrong yesterday meant that many of us did not get a chance to do so. Many points could have been made. It is essential that the House get a chance to debate Irish Water in the near future.

It was correct of the Government to take steps to ensure that the ongoing scandals at some foreign language schools did not continue, but a number of legitimate schools have been hit as well. There seems to be a significant delay. One school with a large number of students has been waiting ten months for recognition. It will have to close this Christmas if it does not receive the permission it needs. There is no suggestion of the school not adhering to the rules and regulations that have been applied.

This something to which we should draw the Minister's attention and perhaps we should also debate it in the House.