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10/03/2010
NI Water 'Transparency Essential': SDLP
SDLP Regional Development Spokesperson Tommy Gallagher has called for the independent investigation into procurement practices within NI Water to be made available to the Assembly's DRD Committee.
He said: "The Minister’s indication that he will consider amending the procurement framework is a step forward. However given that NI Water will be spending £527million on capital expenditure over the next three years, it is imperative that there is full transparency in all aspects of future procurement procedures.
"If reports are to be believed, the procurement procedures up to this point have given rise to very serious concerns.
"If there are any questions about breaches surrounding the award of contracts within NI Water, then that is a matter that must be fully investigated."
Mr Gallagher continued: "In order to restore public confidence and to reassure local contractors who seek public work, all issues must be dealt with in an open and transparent way.
"The onus rests on Minister Conor Murphy and his department to share the full details of this report with the Assembly Committee without further delay."
NI Water was again in the news this week after it emerged that it had been fined £1,500 plus £25 court costs at Dungannon Magistrates' Court for making a polluting discharge to a waterway.
A Water Quality Inspector, acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (formerly the Environment and Heritage Service) inspected the Torrent River adjacent to Ballynakilly and observed a discharge that appeared to be untreated sewage.
The source was traced to a Combined Sewage Overflow, which was discharging to an unnamed tributary of the Torrent River.
This was reported to NI Water on 7 May 2008. No one from NI Water attended the incident and at 9.00am on 8 May 2008 the inspector received a call from an officer from NI Water advising that he had been made aware of the incident.
NI Water contractors arrived on site and cleared the blockage and removed sewage related debris on the same day.
A sample taken on 7 May 2008 confirmed that the discharge contained poisonous, noxious and polluting matter, which would have been potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving waterway.
(NS/BMcC)
He said: "The Minister’s indication that he will consider amending the procurement framework is a step forward. However given that NI Water will be spending £527million on capital expenditure over the next three years, it is imperative that there is full transparency in all aspects of future procurement procedures.
"If reports are to be believed, the procurement procedures up to this point have given rise to very serious concerns.
"If there are any questions about breaches surrounding the award of contracts within NI Water, then that is a matter that must be fully investigated."
Mr Gallagher continued: "In order to restore public confidence and to reassure local contractors who seek public work, all issues must be dealt with in an open and transparent way.
"The onus rests on Minister Conor Murphy and his department to share the full details of this report with the Assembly Committee without further delay."
NI Water was again in the news this week after it emerged that it had been fined £1,500 plus £25 court costs at Dungannon Magistrates' Court for making a polluting discharge to a waterway.
A Water Quality Inspector, acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (formerly the Environment and Heritage Service) inspected the Torrent River adjacent to Ballynakilly and observed a discharge that appeared to be untreated sewage.
The source was traced to a Combined Sewage Overflow, which was discharging to an unnamed tributary of the Torrent River.
This was reported to NI Water on 7 May 2008. No one from NI Water attended the incident and at 9.00am on 8 May 2008 the inspector received a call from an officer from NI Water advising that he had been made aware of the incident.
NI Water contractors arrived on site and cleared the blockage and removed sewage related debris on the same day.
A sample taken on 7 May 2008 confirmed that the discharge contained poisonous, noxious and polluting matter, which would have been potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving waterway.
(NS/BMcC)
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