Westmeath Examiner

Tim Ryan, Oireachtas Correspondent

Davitt raises concerns over water leaks in Rathconnell

Numerous recent leaks in the mains water infrastructure on a one-mile stretch of road just off the N52 in Rathconnell were raised in the Seanad by Fianna Fáil Senator Aidan Davitt.

“There have been seven breaks in the asbestos line in one year and I am working closely on it with Councillor Bill Collentine, who is well equipped in this field,” he said. “Is there any likelihood they could be poisoned from the asbestos line, which is in very poor condition and is constantly breaking? I am afraid to tell them they will not. A lot of work has been done with the new water authority to get the line upgraded but it is kicking us to touch at present.”

He asked the Leader of the House, , to clarify the matter or invite the Minister to the House to clarify the position. “It is only a one-mile stretch of pipe but it is constantly breaking and leaking and it would be great if it could be upgraded,” he said.

In reply, the Leader of the House said Senator Davitt was correct that there is concern regarding water infrastructure in Rathconnell, which is proof of the need for investment, “which some colleagues here do not want to see happen, in our infrastructure and Irish Water.”

“I hope that Irish Water, which has a strong investment plan and programme of investment for water infrastructure and the delivery of clean drinking water to communities like Rathconnell, will do that,” he said. “I commend Senator Davitt on raising that matter this morning.”

Update sought on location for Westmeath Civil Defence

An update on the relocation of the Westmeath Civil Defence headquarters was sought in the Dáil by Longford-Westmeath Deputy Peter Burke.

“Unfortunately, the organisation has been treated badly by the State because it was put in a disgraceful location and volunteers were challenged every day by the surroundings in which they had to work,” he said. “I appeal to the Minster of State () to ensure his Department liaises strongly with the county council because a number of options are on the table and a solution is needed for volunteers who are the first responders in many incidents.”

In reply, the Minister of State said Civil Defence operating costs in each county are co- funded by the Department of Defence and the local authority. The Department provides 70% of the funding by way of an annual grant, with the remaining 30% funded by the local authority. The provision of accommodation for local Civil Defence units is the responsibility of the relevant local authority.

“I have witnessed at first hand their response to flooding events and I am aware that Westmeath Civil Defence was active in support of the local community during the flooding in late 2015 and early 2016,” he said. “Senior officials of the Department have met senior officials of to discuss the options available to the council in the provision of accommodation for Westmeath Civil Defence. The council declined an initial option of availing of Columb Barracks for use, including for use by Civil Defence. My Department has recently received correspondence from the council and I expect further engagement on the matter of accommodation for the Civil Defence unit to take place in the near future.”

Penrose seeks changes to animal welfare legislation

An amendment to current legislation to give the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) authority to enter establishments was called for by Labour Deputy Willie Penrose.

Addressing the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, he said a new Greyhound Industry Bill will incorporate the welfare of greyhounds “from the cradle to the grave”.

“There are people in all walks of life who may not take appropriate care of animals in the way we would like them to,” he said. “It is important that the vast bulk of people involved in the industry as owners, breeders, trainers and everybody else do their very best in this regard. Anybody who does not take appropriate care or who behaves in an inhumane fashion in any form has to be excluded, whether that is from boards or from participation.”

Deputy Penrose said the Welfare of Greyhounds (Amendment) Bill 2017 is something in which the Dáil can implement particular standards, even though they need to be strengthened. “Nevertheless, there is a good corpus of legislation dealing with welfare standards and we should acknowledge that,” he said. “If there is a deficit of welfare in countries in which greyhounds or indeed any animal are being exported to, then we should call a halt to that straight away. That is apparent. Sometimes one might say that a certain country is not an acceptable place. We cannot do that. It cannot be based on anecdotal evidence. It has to be based on very strong empirical evidence for us to do those things. There is no use taking a blunderbuss approach and then living to regret it. We have to be careful to do the right thing for the protection of animal welfare but we must do so based upon evidence as opposed to hunches or anecdotes.”