McNamara: “A month of dangerous readings, and the public were told nothing”

Independent MEP for Ireland South Michael McNamara has demanded answers from Uisce Éireann and the HSE over why people in Ardfinnan went a full month before being told not to drink their water.

Figures released under Access to Information legislation show that network samples taken on 9 September 2026 were already well above the 200 µg/L limit for aluminium. Results continued to breach that limit through September and into October, peaking at 2,373 µg/L on 4 October, almost twelve times the legal limit. A Do Not Consume notice was not issued until 9 October.

Uisce Éireann says the HSE was consulted on every result received. The HSE, for its part, advised a Do Not Consume restriction only on 9 October.

Speaking today, Michael McNamara said:

“Someone knew. Uisce Éireann has told us the HSE was consulted on all of these results from the very start. So I want to know what was said, what was advised, and why a month of readings like these did not trigger a warning to families who were drinking this water every day.”

“A reading of 2,373 on 4 October was not a marginal breach. It was a red flag. Yet it took another five days before the public were told not to consume the water. That is not acceptable for a public utility, and it is not acceptable for the body responsible for protecting public health.”

“People in Ardfinnan have already lived through months of uncertainty. They had to rely on Freedom of Information requests to find out what was in their own taps. Information about drinking water should be given to the public by default. It should not have to be prised out of the system.”

Mr McNamara said he will be raising the matter with the European Commission, given the obligations Member States have under EU drinking water law to protect consumers and keep them informed.

“Uisce Éireann and the HSE must publish a full timeline: when each result was received, who was told, what advice was given, and why that advice did not lead to action sooner. The people of Ardfinnan deserve the truth.”