9 Ean 2012, 16:20
The Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht will resume its investigation into the supply, storage, provision, disposal and cost of water when it will meet with Dr Eoin Reeves, University of Limerick, Paddy Beirne, Leitrim County Council and Michael Wall, SIPTU.
Committee Chairman Ciarán Lynch, TD said: “Following a series of meetings on water supply last year, the Committee will resume its consultation process tomorrow with key stakeholders in the water sector where we will address design, build and operate schemes for water provision.
Dr Eoin Reeves is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Economics, University of Limerick. His research interests include different aspects of public sector economics. In a recent book co-written with Dr Donal Palcic, Privatisation in Ireland - Lessons from a European Economy, he has advised against full privatisation of strategically important State-owned enterprises. For its part, SIPTU has said in the past that water management must be maintained under public control. As Water & Sewage Caretaker, Leitrim County, Paddy Beirne has a clear insight into the operation of water services at ground level.
Our meeting tomorrow will provide Dr Reeves, Mr Beirne and Mr Wall with an opportunity to outline their views on water infrastructure, supply and storage. Committee members will have a chance to hear their analysis of the various issues involved in providing water services and water infrastructure. We will also have an opportunity to raise any concerns or questions we may have on the matter.
It is clear that we need immediate action now to ensure that we have an adequate water infrastructure in the future and to prevent future water shortages and the Committee has identified this issue as a priority and a major concern.
Our meeting tomorrow is the latest in series of engagements with interested parties and stakeholders which will help inform the Committee’s report on the water sector which will put forward proposals to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.”
This meeting will take place on Tuesday, 10th January, in Committee Room 4, Leinster House 2000 at 2.15pm.
Following this meeting, officials from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport will address the Committee meeting tomorrow where Members will examine EU Legislative Proposal: COM (2011) 650 on guidelines for the development of the Trans-European Network.
Committee proceedings can be followed live at:
http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?fn=/documents/livewebcast/Web-Live.htm&CatID=83&m=o
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee Membership
Deputies:
Ciarán Lynch, Labour Party (Chairman)
Noel Coonan, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
James Bannon, Fine Gael
Paudie Coffey, Fine Gael
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Fine Gael
Tony McLoughlin, Fine Gael
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Kevin Humphreys, Labour Party
Gerald Nash, Labour Party
Seán Kenny, Labour Party
Robert Troy, Fianna Fáil
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Niall Collins, Fianna Fáil
Sandra McLellan, Sinn Féin
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Brian Stanley, Sinn Féin
Clare Daly, Socialist Party
Catherine Murphy, Independent
Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Independent
Senators:
Cáit Keane, Fine Gael
Catherine Noone, Fine Gael
Labhrás Ó’Murchú, Fianna Fáil
Ned O’Sullivan, Fianna Fáil
Eamonn Coghlan, Independent