Part of Question for Urgent Oral Answer — Infrastructure – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 3:30 pm on 16 September 2024.
Patsy McGlone
Social Democratic and Labour Party
3:30,
16 September 2024
Go raibh maith agat, a Aire, as bheith anseo leis na freagraí a thabhairt dúinn.
[Translation: Thank you, Minister, for being present to provide us with answers.]
I had numerous reports at the tail end of last week about foul tastes and odours from the water supply. Young mothers are afraid to give it to their babies through the food that they are providing. I have had a lot of calls about foul taste and foul odours; indeed, I found it in the tea and coffee as well.
Can the Minister say today, if he has the information with him, whether additional or extra chemicals have been added to the water supply? If so, what are they? Secondly, the Minister mentioned the testing mechanisms: what testing is being done, where and how often to ensure the fitness of the water for human consumption?
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
