Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the Minister of State's detailed and comprehensive reply, which confirms that the European Commission has been raising these issues since 2014 which is a long time ago. It also confirms that there was an issue with approximately 70 water supply zones. Correspondence from the Commission issued to the Government in November 2021 indicates that it believes the drinking water directive has been breached in 30 water supply zones. Would it be possible to publicly identify those 30 water supply zones? It is important for the people who are drinking that water to know that issues relating to it are being contested between the Irish Government and the EU.

The Minister of State has shed some light on the matter and given us some detail, which is very helpful. He has given us facts, which are very important in the context of our water supply, public health and transparency. Clearly, the Government is going to contest the Commission's findings and I ask that the Department keep us informed in that regard. Again, I thank the Minister of State for shedding some light on this matter and sharing some of the facts of this case.