Grace O'Sullivan (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I echo the points made by both of my colleagues on the lack of a Government representative from the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government at today's meeting. In the end, the buck of compliance stops with the Government. As the Government is ultimately responsible, it is a bit of a failure that someone from the Department did not attend today.

In general, when do the witnesses expect a judgment in the current action being taken against Ireland? If the court finds against Ireland, which seems inevitable, how long do they anticipate Ireland will have to comply based on other, similar cases?

I note that Irish Water's presentation proposes full compliance by 2024. The Irish Water 25-year water services strategic plan proposed 99% compliance by 2027 and 100% compliance by 2040. Does Irish Water have a better idea now of what exactly is needed, and is the 2024 projection of 100% compliance accurate? Senator Boyhan referred to the Irish Water funds. Are they guaranteed? Does Irish Water have sufficient funds to achieve its targets and objectives? If not, how much extra do Mr. Grant and Ms Higgins think is required to meet the Water Framework Directive deadline by 2021? It seems that we are, at best, 24 years late, which is shocking. There must be a sense of urgency regarding compliance.

How soon do the witnesses envisage daily fines? It is important to point out that the urban wastewater treatment directive is an old directive and is essentially the bare minimum to prevent the worst of sewage pollution. The Water Framework Directive requires discharge standards that will bring us to a modern level of safe, healthy, clean water, and according to the water services strategy plan, only 60% of discharges will be compliant by 2021.

I echo the comments of my two colleagues. There really is a sense of urgency that Ireland comply for multiple reasons - environmental, health and economic in terms of the cost of fines, so I hope we can move as fast as possible to ensure better standards.