The Irish water sector is at a pivotal moment in its journey towards improved water quality,
sustainable funding and water security.
The challenges of operating water services require careful consideration. Despite the ongoing
political uncertainty, the underlying water service has to be provided. With an aging infrastructure
and historically inconsistent funding there has been much discussion about what the future of the
water sector in Ireland will look like. However, there are some positive steps to be taken.
The 4th annual Water Ireland Conference will address the important issues currently facing all
stakeholders in the Irish water sector. This is with a view to driving a practical programme of best
practice, innovation and ideas on how to improve the services as desired by all parties.
This conference will address:
 Legislation updates
 What the future of asset management holds
 Ireland’s skills gap and people management
 What we can learn from the water metering roll-out experience
 The EU Directives on water quality and river basin management plans
 The funding and affordability balance for all involved
Suggested speakers:
Alan Kelly, T.D. Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government
Dr. John Tierney, Managing Director, Irish Water
Laura Burke, Director General, Environmental Protection Agency
Frank McDonald, Environment Editor, The Irish Times
Cathy Mannion, Director of Water and Energy Retail, Commission for Energy Regulation (CER)
Nigel Ayton, Managing Director, Scottish Water International
David Keane, Water Services and County Engineer, Cork County Council
Sean Clerkin, National Advisor, National Federation of Group Water Schemes (NFGWS)
Catherine Mcallum, Chief Executive Officer, Rivers Agency
Adrian Conway, Executive Manager (Engineering), Dublin City Council
Fred Barry, Chief Executive Officer, National Roads Authority
Neil Robertson, Chief Executive Officer, EU Skills
John Martin, Head of Flood Risk Assessment and Management Section, Office of Public Works
(OPW)
Dr Tom Curran, Lecturer, University College Dublin
Jerry Grant, Head of Asset Management, Irish Water
DRAFT AGENDA (Subject to change)
08:45 Conference registration, refreshments and exhibition
09:30 Welcome and introduction from conference chair
Frank McDonald, Environment Editor, The Irish Times
SESSION 1 – THE WATER SECTOR LANDSCAPE IN IRELAND
09:40 An update on the policy landscape for the water sector in Ireland
Alan Kelly, T.D. Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government
10:00 Irish Water – how is it progressing towards becoming a full service utility?
Dr. John Tierney, Managing Director, Irish Water
10:20 An update on the EU Water Framework Directive
Laura Burke, Director General, Environmental Protection Agency
10:40 The cost of water services in Ireland and the latest pricing developments
Cathy Mannion, Director of Water and Energy Retail, Commission for Energy Regulation
(CER)
11:00 Panel question and answer session
11:15 Refreshments, networking and exhibition
SESSION 2 –IMPROVING WATER SERVICE, QUALITY AND SECURITY
11:45 An overview of Scottish Water’s transformation journey and current challenges
Nigel Ayton, Managing Director, Scottish Water International
12:05 Visit www.wwt-ireland.net for details
12:20 The impact of water security issues on a major water user, the tourism sector
Senior representative, Tourism Ireland
12:40 The National Road Authority – demonstrating what a single body with one focus
can achieve for consumers
Fred Barry, Chief Executive Officer, National Roads Authority
13:00 Panel question and answer session
13:15 Buffet lunch, networking and exhibition
SESSION 3 – IMPROVING AND INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND PEOPLE
14:15 The future skills gap – how to attract young talent to the water sector in Ireland
Neil Robertson, Chief Executive Officer, EU Skills
14:35 What is needed to improve water quality, mitigate the effects of lead piping and
eliminate bugs to avoid ‘boil water’ notices?
Senior Representative, Water Framework Directive Integration Unit, Environmental
Protection Agency
14:55 Expenditure vs. cost – balancing affordability with the need for improvement
Jerry Grant, Head of Asset Management, Irish Water
15:15 Panel question and answer session
15:30 Refreshments, networking and exhibition
SESSION 4 – BREAKOUT GROUPS
16:00 – 17:00
Delegates should choose one breakout group, which are designed to be interactive and
participatory in nature. Places are allocated on am first-come first-serve basis and are subject to
maximum capacities.
THE SERVICE LEVEL
AGREEMENT
Who Delivers? The
proposed Water Industry
Operating Framework for
Ireland’s Water
Adrian Conway,
Executive Manager
(Engineering), Dublin
City Council
Budgets - how to manage
payment for services
between local authorities
and Irish Water?
David Keane, Water
Services and County
Engineer, Cork County
Council
17:00 End of conference
FLOOD RISK PLANNING
What needs to be done for
increased efficiency in
flood
prevention infrastructure?
Senior Representative,
Northern Ireland Rivers
Agency (Department of
Agriculture and Rural
Development)
Case study: Cork City
Council and its flood plan
John Martin, Head of Flood
Risk Assessment &
Management Section, Office
of Public Works (OPW)
WASTE MANAGEMENT
AND SUSTAINABILITY
Fats, Oils and Grease –
what
can be done to combat this
challenge to sustainable
waste management?
Dr Tom Curran, Lecturer,
University College Dublin
The role of metering in
conserving water