Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Fianna Fáil, as it outlined in its motion, would remove Irish Water from the playing field and thereby delay or discontinue this important work to address these legacy issues and provide for future needs. It would jeopardise our ultimate goals of secure and reliable drinking water supplies and comprehensive wastewater treatment for all parts of the country. This would be at a time of rising population, a growing economy and a changing climate, developments that are putting new and increased demands on our public water and wastewater systems. As we look towards a more prosperous future, let us build on the reforms introduced so that we have a public water and wastewater system that serves all our needs and of which we can be proud. I, therefore, urge the House to support the Government's amendment to the motion.