Mattie McGrath calls Shannon-to-Dublin pipeline a 'folly'
Mattie McGrath warned against the proposed Shannon-to-Dublin pipeline, arguing it would send almost 50% of the water into leaky pipes and urged the government to reconsider. He raised concerns about damage to the Premier County and other rural areas and called for serious planning on water infrastructure and wastewater treatment.
Main objection
He asked whether the government would continue "the folly of bringing a pipe from the Shannon right up to Dublin to pump almost 50% of the water into leaky pipes," warning that 50% of the water will leak out and that pipes can also allow water to seep back in where they are burst and open.
Local impact and environment
He criticised the decision as allowing huge construction and "a huge devastation on land and floor and fawn and everything to our Premier County and all the other counties," challenging colleagues who support the scheme despite local impacts.
Irish Water and wastewater
He reported meeting with Irish Water and referenced their work on wastewater treatment plants in towns and villages, noting Irish Water's warning that there is a real crisis if planning is not appropriate.
Dublin supply and planning
He said the Shannon project is being presented as essential for the capacity of Dublin to survive over the next three decades and asked whether Dublin people would still have water in 30 years' time, calling the question a serious point.
Call for seriousness
He urged the government to "get serious on the oil and the eruptors," warned against opposing measures solely because they are locally popular, and then passed the floor to Deputy Joan Collins.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Water outages are daily occurrence now in many rural towns and areas in Tipperary. Are your government going to continue the folly of bringing a pipe from the Shannon right up to Dublin to pump almost 50% of the water into leaky pipes? 50% of the water will leak out those pipes. Not only what leaks out but what leaks back in and seeps back in when the pipes are burst and open. So will you reconsider this daft plan? I can't get over the Green colleagues that will allow for this huge construction and a huge devastation on land and floor and fawn and everything to our Premier County and all the other counties. I don't know what you have against Dublin altogether but are you going to allow Dublin people to drink water in 30 years' time? That's not a facetious point by the way. It's a very serious point I'm making. We met with Irish Water yesterday and back to Deputy Kenny's point, I mean they are looking at wastewater treatment plants in towns and villages across the country. But also they made the very point to us. There is a real crisis facing us if we don't plan appropriately. That Shannon project is essential for the capacity of Dublin to survive over the next three decades. Thank you very much. We really need to get serious on the oil and the eruptors. We're running out of time. Not just stop opposing everything because it might be locally popular. Deputy Joan Collins, please.
Thank you for downloading 🙏
If you publish this material on social media, we would be very grateful if you tagged VideoParliament. It helps us reach more people and keep building a transparent archive of Irish politics.
