Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

It had not been my intention to speak on this Bill but having listened to so much rubbish over the last few days, I thought I should add my tuppence worth to the debate. I believe people will look back in 12 months and will ask what all the fuss was about in this regard. If I have a criticism of the Minister, it is that he is probably being too responsible and that he should perhaps have directed local authorities to bring forward by-laws similar to those introduced in Cavan in order to address this matter. If that had occurred, we would not have witnessed the grandstanding and showboating that have taken place in the House on Second Stage and at the Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government on Committee Stage.

If a person's roof springs a leak or if a window in his or her house is broken, he or she will, if possible, have it fixed. If he or she does not possess the financial resources necessary to have it fixed, the State will, in general, provide him or her with assistance in that regard. Likewise, if someone has a difficulty with his or her septic tank, he or she should, in the first instance, have it repaired. The ill effects of a defective septic tank are not as tangible as having water flowing down through the ceiling as a result of a leak in the roof. In the light of this, people will often let the matter pass and not carry out the necessary repairs.

I have every confidence that a pragmatic and reasonable approach will be adopted. I am sure the standard that will be set will relate to whether a septic tank system, regardless of whether it is pre-1900 or pre-1999, actually works. I am also sure that where people encounter difficulties in getting a defective septic tank back into proper operation, they will be provided with some level of reasonable assistance. Deputy Denis Naughten referred to farm families, the vast majority of whom have carried out far larger works in recent years than those that will be required in this instance.

The legislation may have afforded the members of some semi-dormant political parties an opportunity to stalk the countryside creating fear where it did not exist and masquerade as being interested in solving, rather than adding to, the problem. The contributions and interjections of Deputies Mattie McGrath and Niall Collins prompted me to wonder whether they were tempted to audition for the new McDonald's advertisement for its eurosaver menu in which the Ireland of the year 2222 is depicted.

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