Billy Lawless (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not live here at the moment but I come from Galway. I remember eight or nine years ago when the cryptosporidium problem occurred and there was no drinking water in Galway for four or five months in a city that depends on tourism.

Since The Gathering tourism has increased by 15% year on year. A visitor cannot even get a room in Dublin anymore. Tourism is valuable and we must have a proper water system to support it. I remember farming 30 years ago down around Tuam. All those areas had their own group schemes. People were paying far more than €3 per week.

We must have water and proper water systems if we want tourism to increase, and that is happening now. We have been lucky in recent months and I hope it stays that way with regard to terrorism. Anyway, Ireland is a sought-out place and we have to have proper infrastructure and water for our people and for when our tourists come.