ENDA KENNY HAS mounted a defence of Irish Water and its chief executive John Tierney, insisting that the present situation with water provision in Ireland cannot be allowed to continue.

Speaking on his way into Government Buildings this morning, the Taoiseach said that he has “every confidence” that Tierney will do his job as expected and said the former Dublin city manager will deal with whatever issues arise out of his involvement in the controversial Poolbeg incinerator project.

The Irish Independent reports this morning that Tierney will be called before the Public Accounts Committee in relation to the project.

Kenny said that Irish Water is a “very major project to deal with the future of our country in terms of supply of high quality water for people and businesses alike”.

“We can’t have a situation where thousands have to boil water everyday,” he said. “We can’t have a situation where 40 per cent of what we produce and you pay for is leaking into the ground.”

“We have to consistency and a very high standard and Mr Tierney is heading up the utility called Uisce Eireann, or Irish Water, to deliver that.”

Speaking in relation to the Central Remedial Clinic scandal, Kenny said that he expected the PAC will not be required to seek compellability for former board members to appear before it in the coming weeks to answer questions about the €742,000 pay-off to its former CEO.

A short time later, Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Bredan Howlin said that anybody who is involved in the spending of public money should appear before TDs on the powerful Oireachtas committee:

- reporting from Michelle Hennessy at Government Buildings

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