Dáil Éireann

Dáil Éireann

Vol. 960 Wednesday, No. 5 18 October 2017 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Insert Date Here 18/10/2017A00100Water Services Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 493 18/10/2017E00400Legal Metrology (Measuring Instruments) Bill 2017: Order for Report Stage� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 501 18/10/2017E00700Legal Metrology (Measuring Instruments) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 501 18/10/2017F00100Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2016: From the Seanad � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 502 18/10/2017K00100Leaders’ Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 513 18/10/2017O00600Questions on Promised Legislation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 523 18/10/2017S00950Departmental Communications � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 535 18/10/2017T01150Cabinet Committee Meetings � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 539 18/10/2017V00650EU Summits � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 543 18/10/2017GG00200Topical Issue Matters � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 567 18/10/2017GG00400Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 568 18/10/2017GG00500Priority Questions� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 568 18/10/2017GG00550Air Corps � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 568 18/10/2017HH00150Defence Forces Investigations � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 571 18/10/2017JJ00900Defence Forces Representative Organisations � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 573 18/10/2017KK00450Defence Forces Strength � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 577 18/10/2017LL00100EU Bodies� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 579 18/10/2017LL00850Other Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 581 18/10/2017LL00900Defence Forces Operations� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 581 18/10/2017NN00450Defence Forces Personnel � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 585 18/10/2017OO00250Defence Forces Representative Organisations � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 587 18/10/2017OO01000Military Neutrality � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 589 18/10/2017QQ00300Personal Explanation by Member � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 592 18/10/2017QQ00500Topical Issue Debate � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 592 18/10/2017QQ00600Garda Resources � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 592 18/10/2017RR00300Garda Deployment � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 595 18/10/2017SS00450Flood Risk Management � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 599 18/10/2017UU00150Coastal Protection� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 602 18/10/2017ZZ00100Correcting Pension Inequities: Motion [Private Members]� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 606 DÁIL ÉIREANN Dé Céadaoin, 18 Deireadh Fómhair 2017 Wednesday, 18 October 2017 Chuaigh an Leas-Cheann Comhairle i gceannas ar 10�30 a�m� Paidir. Prayer. 18/10/2017A00100Water Services Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) Question again proposed: “That the Bill be now read a Second Time�” 18/10/2017A00200Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice: Obstacles are being put in front of Irish Water such as in Lough Talt in Sligo where it is willing to put in a new system to upgrade the water quality because of the danger of trihalomethanes, THMs� Water has been extracted here for 30 or 40 years by Sligo County Council but now, because of new regulations and even though the same water is coming out today, the council will not give Irish Water an extraction licence, which is absolutely crazy� Water pipes remained safe but if anything was learned from the storm in the last few days it was that there was a problem with electricity not being restored quickly� Obviously, reservoirs would not be big enough to keep many parts of the country going for a few days, especially in large urban areas� We were caught out in a few places� This should have been done years ago� It is not just about Irish Water in that the councils should have backup generators to ensure we were able to keep the flow of water going. This is one lesson that needs to be learned from the storm in certain areas� In fairness, however, people have been on the ball and things are up and running again in most regions� I believe it was an oversight� Maintenance of the lines is also an issue� Down through the years it is the one thing that has not been done� Anybody who understands the water system will know that one must scour the lines� This is the cleaning of the lines from A to B to C right to the end of the pipe� Unfor- tunately, in Ireland we do not seem to have a proper programme for doing this� Many places appear to be understaffed; they are busy doing connections or making sure other problems are sorted� Line maintenance, however, does not seem to be done� This is why Deputies get calls from people telling us about dirty water or little molecules in their water� The lack of line main- tenance is the reason for this� If it was done on a three-monthly basis, four times per year, we would have absolutely no problem in many cases� It has not been done down through the years; it is not only now� A proper programme needs to be set up� 493 Dáil Éireann I have worked in the water sector for many years and Ervia gives the impression that the paperwork seems to have multiplied by a thousand� From my understanding of the Bord Gáis Energy side of Ervia, they love paperwork also� The Department should make sure we address this situation� There are many smaller contractors in the State who, because of the recession, would not have had a big turnover in recent years� The money was not being spent� They then had to reach certain thresholds to tender for contracts� In so doing, we were cutting it down to just a few contractors� I believe this is by design� The small contractors covered all the group water schemes and the public schemes right around the State� There may have been ten in each county� These smaller contractors are now being sidelined and are being made into sub- contractors, because one big crowd has taken it over� This costs more money because everyone has to have a slice of the loaf� We should make sure that everybody is given an opportunity� We must remember the amount of work that has to be done and that it will give employment to areas� There are water pipes everywhere around the country and it will give employment to people in all regions but the culture of paperwork is an issue� When I worked in the water sector, I remember bringing pipes right around Ireland and I saw some of the biggest pipelines being laid� Nowadays, the volume of paperwork required to be completed before even a bucket is put in the ground is so unbelievable people are tearing their hair out over it� We need to look at how our processes can be simplified. Another issue is the delay in the granting of permission to order equipment such as pumps and so on� While most small operations would have at least one spare pump and larger ones would often have two often by the time permission is granted to order a new one the spare one is also out of action and panic ensues� This is pure stupidity in terms of how the process operates� I would like the Department, and in particular the Minister, to address a situation in the west� Decisions on group water schemes by Galway County Council have slowed down dramati- cally� I am not blaming the council for this� I understand that owing to absences due to illness and staff transferring to other areas of work within the council there is only a skeleton staff in Galway County Council� In one case involving an upgrade of a group water scheme, all of the

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