John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Ó Coigligh and Ms Connolly. I will focus on the second paragraph of head 7 which reads "Two or more abstraction points drawing water from the same body of surface water or groundwater and which join to form a combined abstraction shall be considered to be a single abstraction". In responding to Senator Fitzpatrick, Mr. Ó Coigligh said that this would not affect the hundreds of thousands of people who draw water for their domestic supply. How is it determined that it is the same body of water from which water is drawn? If neighbours in the same area were drawing from the same surface water or groundwater supply, could they be considered to exceed the threshold and therefore have to register? I am conscious of what was said in the opening remarks with regard to balance, proportionality and the avoidance of administrative burden. I am trying to ascertain the situation in that regard.

I welcome the point on which Mr. Ó Coigligh was elaborating when he ran out of time. He suggested that the threshold could potentially be lowered. Such a change would obviously be subject to the approval of the Oireachtas. This is very important. Will Mr. Ó Coigligh elaborate on that point?