Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We paid €2.7 million in fines to the EU arising because of our inactivity in registering septic tanks. That would have been unnecessary if action had been taken earlier. That was a lower figure than was being highlighted to us by the Commission earlier in the process. Within weeks of becoming Minister, I dealt with that issue but it was a little late in the day from the point of view of heading off some of the fines. The nonsense uttered at public meetings about ground-water quality associated with septic tanks can be now be seen for what it is. People in rural Ireland know and understand the necessity for good ground-water. It is in the interest of public health and jobs, particularly in the food industry. If people want to campaign against ground-water quality, they are seeking to close rural Ireland in the future in the context of economic activity. It was a disgraceful campaign and I am delighted that we were able to secure decisions in the Oireachtas and in the European Parliament to show we are serious about ground-water quality and it was flattering to hear some people making representations to Government and Opposition Members about the modest proposals we put through the Houses for a risk-based approach. People were then seeking inspections to be carried out by local authorities in order that they could access the financial assistance I announced. However, this is the sort of nonsense that gives us all a bad name.

I will establish the expert committee on climate change in the next few weeks and I will do that on ad hoc basis pending the enactment of the legislation. I have indicated I will take a number of the committee's recommendations on board in the revised legislation and, hopefully, it will be published by Easter next year. I hope to go to the Government before the end of the year on a new climate policy to reflect some of the issues we discussed here regarding the sectoral map. A great deal of political activity is likely to happen on the climate change agenda in 2014.