More water woes for greater Dublin area

Good morning,

More than half a million people who are waking up this morning will do so unable to consume water in their homes without boiling it first.

This situation is unlikely to change within the next 24 hours. In fact, the boil-water notice covering the greater Dublin area is unlikely to be lifted until tomorrow “at the very earliest”.

This is the second such notice in as many weeks, and if comments from Irish Water officials at the Oireachtas Committee on Housing yesterday are anything to go by, this may not be the last.

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Senior officials admitted yesterday there is an “elevated risk” of cryptosporidium entering the water supply served by the Leixlip plant and that this will remain the case until the second quarter of next year when scheduled upgrade works are due to finish.

There was another surprising development that we can expect to hear more about today, and it revolves around how vulnerable or cash-strapped households can get access to bottled water.

After questioning from Fine Gael TD Noel Rock, Irish Water conceded anyone can ring up and inform the utility they believe themselves to be vulnerable to get access to bottled water.

“We don’t investigate that. The take-up is few and far between,” said Michael O’Leary of Irish Water.

Fianna Fáil will today further question the Government on its handling of the problem, and we can expect this issue to get a little bit more political.

The party’s housing spokesman, Darragh O’Brien, is expected to accuse the Minister for Housing, Eoghan Murphy, of being “hands-off”.

As if on cue, Mr Murphy is today expected to visit the plant in Leixlip.

TDs in the affected constituencies, though, already know only too well how political this issue is.

The notice affects parts of Fingal, areas in Dublin City Council, parts of South Dublin County Council, parts of Kildare and Dunboyne in Meath.

“My phone is lighting up,” said Mr Rock yesterday as Soc Dems co-leader Catherine Murphy said the issue affects one in ten households and that these people are living in a state of fear.

Throughout today, the Department of Housing will remain in contact with the Environmental Protection Agency and Irish Water as the pressure increases on the Government to resolve the issue, which also affects businesses and hospitals in the affected areas.

The Department of Housing has asked for a direct report into the recent issues from the EPA “as soon as possible”.

Further tests will be also be carried out in the Leixlip plant today. Keep an eye on irishtimes.com for updates.

Government targets coffee cups in ‘green’ strategy

As you grab your vital (if you’re like me) cup of coffee this morning, we have some pertinent news on the front page.

Fiach Kelly reports a new levy of up to 25 cents on a disposable coffee cup is one of a number of new environmental charges due to be announced by the Government today.

The exact level of the coffee cup levy is yet to be finalised, and it will depend on “market research”, but it is expected to be 10 cents, 15 cents or 25 cents.

Coffee shops will also be asked to display a range of prices: the cost of a coffee in a reusable cup; the cost if a single-use cup is used; and the cost of having a coffee on the premises using the coffee shop’s own cups.

“The Minister for Climate Action Richard Bruton will today also outline that the existing plastic bag levy will increase by three cents, from 22 cents to 25 cents,” Kelly writes.

There will also be charges on medium-weight plastic bags for the first time and an increase in the landfill levy.

Here is the piece.

The move is another example of the Government attempt to align itself with the worldwide green wave and is timely too, given the recent remarks about climate change by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

An Taisce said yesterday the Taoiseach needed to “urgently clarify” recent comments he made about the “benefits” of climate change.

Speaking at the launch of the first progress report on the Climate Action Plan last week, the Taoiseach said: “It’s interesting to see that there can be pluses and minuses as well, like actually one thing that we definitely face as a result of climate change is warmer winters, we’re already experiencing warmer winters, and that actually means using less energy, because it’s warmer. And people use less heating and also that means fewer deaths as a result of cold weather.”

The Taoiseach has now moved to clarify these comments, reports Marie O'Halloran.

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Playbook

Dáil

Minister for Culture Josepha Madigan takes parliamentary questions at 10.30am.

At noon, Leaders’ Questions kicks off.

There will be expressions of sympathy on the death of former member Peter Kelly at 12.32pm.

Questions on Promised Legislation take place at 1.17pm.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar answers questions in the chamber at 1.47pm.

Topical Issues will be taken at 3.32pm.

The Solidarity-People Before Profit motion on “money messages” was scheduled to be taken after 4pm - but this was before the Ceann Comhairle refused to allow the motion citing concerns about its constitutionality

Government Business takes place at 6.20pm with the Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Bill 2018 and the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019.

There will also be statements on the potential for an early exit from peat for electricity generation, and the Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Bill is also scheduled before the Da?il adjourns at 10.15pm.

Seanad

Commencement Matters are up at 10.30am.

The Order of Business will be taken at 11.30am.

The Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2019 is up at 12.45pm. The Bill aims to improve communication between students, parents and schools.

At 4.30pm, there will be statements on a report on small and medium-sized businesses in Ireland.

The Tánaiste will appear at 6pm for statements on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

Committees

The Joint Committee on Justice meets at 9am to discuss the Department of Justice’s “Transformation Programme”.

The Joint Committee on Health meets at the same time to discuss the implications of Brexit for health law in Ireland and the EU.

The Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach also continues its consideration of the Finance Bill with Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe.

At 10am the Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs will meet the new Tusla CEO for an update on childcare facilities issues.

Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport will meet at 2pm to consider the BusConnects plan.

At 3pm the Joint Committee on Rural and Community Development will discuss the co-ordination of Grant Aid to Support Rural Towns and Villages.