Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am surprised to hear that they have not been raising this issue with the delegates. With all due respect, I believe a voluntary code is pointless. We now see the mess people are living in as a result of voluntary codes.

When the inspection regime starts in 2013, many people will be in very vulnerable circumstances. They will fear the inspector's visit although they will want to upgrade their septic tanks to an appropriate standard. I am told no regulation will be put in place in advance. In other words, there will be a cowboy's contract such that contractors will be able to exploit vulnerable people, especially the elderly. That is not acceptable. I ask the delegates to contact the officials in the water services section urgently to bring forward clear, unambiguous regulations in this area so people will not be exploited on foot of their fear of a potential inspection by a local authority official or the EPA.