John Gilroy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 23 certainly makes sense at some level and it provides us with an opportunity to explore some of the issues it addresses. In terms of efficiency, it certainly makes sense because it seems to provide that Irish Water would issue timely public health notices. Senator Ó Clochartaigh has very direct experience of difficulties with the supply of drinking water in Galway and has outlined the damage to tourism that an outbreak of cryptosporidium caused a number of years ago. Senator Norris referred to E.coli contamination and Senator Kelly needs no reminder of the problems in Roscommon. Organic contaminants are a real problem, as are chemical contaminants as referred to by Senator Craughwell who spoke about lead pipes in Tralee. Similar problems are faced by residents of Little Island in Cork. There seems to be no single agency responsible for addressing such problems.

While I agree with the intent of the amendment, I worry that it will disperse responsibility across too many agencies. At the moment, boil water notices are issues by local authorities on the advice of the HSE. Were we to accept this amendment, we would run the risk of removing the HSE from the equation. The HSE and the EPA both have an independent oversight and monitoring role. The amendment does not address another area covered by the system in Northern Ireland, namely that of "ongoing guidance" with regard to water quality. In Northern Ireland the Drinking Water Liaison Group, DWLG, comprises representatives of Northern Ireland Water, the Public Health Agency, the Northern Ireland Public Health Laboratory, Chief Environmental Health Officers, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. A wide range of bodies in Northern Ireland are involved in oversight and monitoring but also in ongoing supervision, which amendment No. 23 does not address.

While I agree that the amendment has some merit, as it is currently constituted it will not give expression to what the Senators intend because it is too narrow in its scope.