Water: Statements
Dail Éireann — 2026-01-21
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Thomas Gould (SF), Cork North-Central

Can the Minister imagine if the water he and his family were drinking was poisonous or if the water was poisonous for their families and children and he found out this had been going on for three years? This is the situation on the north side of Cork city. It is actually unbelievable that the manganese levels are so dangerous. This is not me saying this; it is Uisce Éireann-Irish Water itself, based on testing it has done which we have got through freedom of information. This proves the manganese level is not fit for human consumption, but still there have been no "Do Not Consume" notices put out. No warnings have been given to the public. This is a fact. I have raised this issue here with the Minister, in the housing committee and with Irish Water. We have all the information that proves water in Cork can be toxic and dangerous to human beings when consumed. How could this be allowed anywhere? I know some people might not have water and some might have bad quality water, but I am talking about water that is poison. This is not according to Thomas Gould or Sinn Féin, but according to the World Health Organization, the European Union, Uisce Éireann, the HSE and the EPA, and no one is doing anything. It is like Pontius Pilate; everyone is washing their hands, and they will not protect the people of Cork North-Central.
If this was happening in a leafy suburb where the Minister for Health comes from or where some of the other Ministers, the Tánaiste or the Taoiseach come from, it would not be accepted. This would not be accepted anywhere. There seems to be an attitude that does not worry about them fellows on the north side of Cork at all. Well, I am worried about them because they elect me to come up here and to stand up for them. The water has been poisoned for three years in Cork and still we do not have an investigation. Where is the EPA? Its job is to protect the people. Where is the HSE? Do you know what it is telling me? It is saying that it is getting its results from Irish Water. We have the results and they show that the water is not drinkable. Sometimes, when you run the tap and the water is brown and dirty, you say, "Well, I will not drink it then". The most dangerous part of the situation here is that even when the water runs clean, it is tested and is not fit for human consumption. We have the reports. We have them. Just to let the Minister know, I want to say a major "thank you" to Fred Logue and the Friends of the Irish Environment and the residents of Mount Farran and The Glen who are taking Irish Water to court. Court cases are ongoing at the moment. I want to send a special "thank you" to Gabriel Scally-----

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-01-21/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-31T01:00:51+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-21