Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)

I am absolutely certain. I know people who have upgraded their sewerage systems. I know people who got planning permission on a half acre site 20 years ago and people who got permission on the site next to it 20 years later, and they could not get percolation. I know people refused planning permission next door to those who got it, because they could not get percolation. All of these issues are out there and that is why people are afraid. That is why people need to have the facts. They need these things to be explained in great detail and they need to see the standards.

We are being asked here to accept the legislation without knowing the standards. We need to know that. For any remedial works that will be carried out, the Minister should give a firm commitment in this House that the Department will fund them.

See this speech in context