Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

I will. Standards are the kernel of the issue. We supported Deputy Collins's motion - unfortunately, we were voted down 7:3 in every vote last week - to invite the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, the County and City Managers Association, CAMA, the Irish Rural Dwellers Association, the county engineers association, the architects of Ireland association, An Taisce, the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, ICMSA, and so on to discuss the standards that would be necessary. It is fine for the Minister to claim on Committee Stage that no standards will apply, but I want that written into the Bill. It is fine for him to claim there will be an exemption from planning permission, but I want that written into the Bill. When that is done, he can show the people of County Tipperary clarity. People will not be fooled. They were promised so much last February, they will not be caught again. What is the saying? Catch me once, shame on you. Catch me twice, shame on me. The people are out there waiting. I will give Mr. Austin Crowe a call, as he will need many of seats in the room in the Dundrum House Hotel that night.

I compliment Deputy Stanley on his amendment. We need little discussion on this issue, as we all want clean water. No one's family wants an odour from the septic tank. People want tanks to work properly, as they paid to have them installed, received planning permission and adhered to the conditions. It is for local authorities to know what standards applied at the time of a tank's installation, as there was no EPA in the 1970s or early 1980s. After arriving on the scene, the EPA has grown bigger and more powerful and has become involved in everything. We need it in certain cases. My colleague, Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan, is not present, but he got sick of reporting his local authority in Roscommon for polluting the river in Castlerea - he can correct me on that, as I am not sure of my geography - by redirecting sewers. When he contacted the EPA, the EPA rang the county council and was told the council would check on the issue. This is the type of policing of county councils that is being done. We do not know who the inspectors will be. We do not know what standards they will apply. If I want to appeal, an inspector will visit.

I thank the Minister for accepting amendments. I have acknowledged that the Bill has been hanging around for a long time. The last Government should have dealt with it. Deputy Tom Hayes stated that I voted for this Bill, but it was never before the House. The Minister need not act like a bulldozer. He is not Brian Cody and cannot beat everyone off the field.

The Bill contains no standards. The Minister should put the horse before the cart and consider its running form. Tá sé ag gáire arís. The best thing he does in the Chamber is ag gáire. Béal mór ag gáire. The Minister cannot laugh at the people of south Tipperary. They are sick and tired of him, given St. Luke's and St. Michael's hospitals, the Army barracks, Cluain Arran, banks and post offices.

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