Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----because people were beginning to conserve water.If we are open, frank and honest, as we wish to be in this era of new politics, it is essential that we look to the future and do what is right for the children and people of the future.

I regret that this legislation is before the House today. It is a backward step, but I understand that it is in the interest of facilitating Government formation and to satisfy a promise Fianna Fáil made in the recent general election campaign. I believe the country and society will regret it, but I will support the legislation in that context. However, I will watch the work of the commission closely. The commission is independent and its members will examine this matter in a factual, scientific and environmental way, which is welcome and appropriate.

As politicians, however, if we are honest with ourselves and with the people, we should do what is right and have a system for investment in water services in this country which we can rely on into the future. We cannot afford to have public water systems close due to contamination, to have 50% of our water leaking into the ground from leaking pipes or to have our capital city and a growing economy with serious capacity issues in providing water. We cannot afford to have cities such as Galway being almost closed down, as happened a number of years ago due to cryptosporidium in the water and as a result of which it lost its tourism and business trade. These issues are not sustainable. If we continue with the broken system we have had up to now, we will all regret it and we will have done our country a disservice.