Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom, as mé fhéin, comhbhrón a chur in iúl do chlanna Joe Walsh agus a rá go raibh brón ar a gcuid, agus clann Brian Farrell freisin. De réir mar a chloisim, is Gaeilgeoir a bhí in Brian Farrell chomh maith céanna. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha go léir.

I wish to discuss the issue of Irish Water. It is a topic of serious debate inside and outside these Houses. I appreciate the Leader did his best to arrange for a good debate on that issue in this House but we need to return to it. What is happening on the ground is a shambles. We had a meeting in Galway last week with the Oireachtas representatives and the local authority on the issue of water services and so on.

A number of issues related to Irish Water have arisen locally with regard to the way it is handling the transfer of undertakings, as such. We had plans in Connemara for a regional water scheme which is half completed. We have been told it is currently being reviewed by Irish Water. The former director of services in Galway County Council told us last week that it appears that an upgrade on our local water scheme in Carraroe that was done last year would do the job for the next year or so and that water might be supplied from there and another local system. That was fine until we heard in the local media during the week that the water system in question has failed the last five EPA tests for trihalomethanes.

The water in that system, which we have been told might be good enough for human consumption, has failed that test five times in a row. I am very concerned that the local authority involved did not tell us about that. It has informed me that it was not its role to tell me that and that it is matter for Irish Water. We are using the Oireachtas helpline to try to contact Irish Water, but it keeps kicking to touch. It has told us that it will get somebody who is qualified in the area to come back to us and give us clarification.

They have not come back to us and it is an absolute shambles. A leading scientist has indicated that the danger surrounding trihalomethanes is very serious over the long term; if this is allowed to continue, people might have an increased chance of contracting cancer and could die as a result. It is a serious life-and-death issue. I appreciate that the Leader did his best when we sought the debate and indicated he would try to return to it. We must get back to the discussion as there are many issues apparent on the ground. I would appreciate if the Leader could update us on how the negotiations with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, are going. Will the leader of the Fianna Fáil grouping in the Seanad ensure all his soldiers are on-site next around and behave properly?