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Green Party Environment
spokesperson Ciarán Cuffe TD today echoed concerns raised by the
EPA about the quality of drinking water being provided to Ireland's
homes. Deputy Cuffe called on the Government to prioritise
legislation to ensure local authorities have adequate resources to
maintain high water quality standards.
Reacting to the publication of 'The
Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland - a Report for the Year 2004'
Deputy Cuffe said: "The fact that 36 per cent of the private
group water schemes were found to have been contaminated with E.
coli shows just how important it is to have vigilant enforcement of
the monitoring and protection standards of our drinking water.
"A water services bill was
introduced to the Dáil in 2003 and the licensing scheme envisaged
under this bill would require group water schemes to meet water
quality and environmental standards in order to qualify for a
licence. However, we are still waiting to see this legislation to be
enacted. The Minister for the Environment has been sitting on his
hands and I am calling on the Government to ensure that this bill is
enacted without delay," Deputy Cuffe concluded. |
