Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed)
Dail Éireann — 2026-06-09
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Richard O'Donoghue (II), Limerick County

Before I start my question, I give my sympathies to the Fossett circus family on the burial today of Marion Fossett. Their circus will have been in existence for 138 years this year. They have been going around the country and internationally. They come to Limerick every year and have always had a charity day where people come in for charity. On my own behalf and that of Independent Ireland, I give my respects to the Fossett family.
My question is about Foynes and Uisce Éireann. For decades Foynes, the port in County Limerick, has been looking for a sewerage system. In Foynes, we are getting an upgraded sewerage system, for which we have been waiting decades. I welcome that. However, the problem is that the system that is being proposed only deals with secondary waste. Basically, it is to remove the solids and let the rest go to source. The Taoiseach is a person who loves to go swimming. He often says he goes swimming on New Year's Day. The discharge for this in Foynes is in the yacht club. I see people across the Chamber smiling at me. This is a health and safety issue. This is waste going back into the River Shannon and a health and safety issue with a yacht club next to it. All Uisce Éireann is going to do is remove the solids. I would welcome all Members on the bench on the other side of the Chamber to come to Foynes to go for a swim in it. That will tell me how much they think of it when we bring it to them at source. Why is Uisce Éireann not putting in a tertiary system that removes all waste and treats it before it goes back to source? The tidal system has been investigated by professors in the field and they have shown that the waste goes off and returns two hours later to where it originated. However, all of this information is being hidden from Government when Uisce Éireann is putting in this system. We are talking about a waste of money. Why can a proper system not be put in in accordance with health and safety guidelines for everyone?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-06-09/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:05+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-09