Mr. Feargal Ó Coigligh:

In relation to possible regulatory change, it is important to go back to the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977.

I would be reluctant to return to an Act in the environmental area that dates back to that time but, under section 4, it provides for licensing and, under section 6, it gives more detail on what the Minister can require under regulations, the form of the licence, the information to be specified, evidence that must be provided and so on. The regulations set out that type of heavy regime that was referenced. There are always ways to adjust regulations within the existing statute. We would suggest we would work with the revised Environmental Protection Agency, EPA guidelines and the dialogue process we have set up with Leitrim County Council, come to conclusions and give the rationale for adjusting the regulatory regime under the existing Act. There is a process involved in that. For example, in supporting ongoing pilot projects, on which the Department would be happy to work with the EPA and Leitrim County Council, if we put a credible project together, for a pilot phase we would still need a heavy regime of information gathering and monitoring to ensure the project can prove itself. That would inform us in being able to say the system works well. Under the existing Act, one could have a lighter form of licence but we would first need the evidence to support that. We are happy to engage to see where that might bring us.