John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I again raise the issue of a debate on national aviation policy. I have asked five or six times at this stage for the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, or the Minister of State, Deputy Lawless, to come into the House. In light of comments the Minister of State, Deputy Lawless, made in the Dáil Chamber last week, I would like it scheduled for the week we return after the mid-term break. It is essential that we have that debate, not just focused on Waterford Airport. I am sure other Members want to discuss aviation across their regions. I have been calling for this for months and it still has not happened, which is very frustrating.

If there is going to be a debate on housing or we are going to have the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, in, one of the topics that needs to be addressed is Uisce Éireann and its inability to get on top of serious leaks in towns and villages across our country. I was campaigning in Lismore, County Waterford at the weekend and the most common complaint that came up was a lack of water pressure and an inability to fix the leaks as reported by both me and Councillor Niamh O'Donovan on the ground.Workers come out and fix the roads rather than fixing the pipes and it is resulting in people not able to have showers in the morning or the evening. It is absolute insanity. If there is to be a debate on topics under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Uisce Éireann needs to be on that list. Those leaks need to be addressed as a matter of urgency. It is unacceptable that people in such a large area are impacted to such an extent that they are not able to have showers due to a lack of water pressure. It is just not acceptable.