Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-17
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Seamus Healy (IND), Tipperary South

Irish Water is an unaccountable quango. It has absolutely no respect for TDs or public representatives. Every TD in this Dáil can speak directly to every Government Department, including every section in the Department of Social Protection. TDs can contact county council staff at management, engineering and administrative level. They can speak with HSE staff at all levels. They can talk to Garda officers at local and national level. In fact, every TD in this House can speak directly to any organisation that deals with the public. Why is Irish Water different? Why does Irish Water refuse to deal directly with elected public representatives? That is the case. There is no way Irish Water will speak directly with Members of this House or members of local authorities. Why is Irish Water the only organisation that does this?
We are elected democratically and Irish Water should be available to every TD in this House through a nominated local official who can deal with issues arising locally and nationally. I ask the Minister to intervene directly with Irish Water in relation to stopping the closure and decommissioning of the Poulavanogue treatment plant in Clonmel.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-09-17/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:48+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-17