Mr. Feargal Ó Coigligh:

It was difficult to cover everything in the seven minutes that were given to us. In the Department's response, however, I pointed to the general water environment issues and the fact that we would publish our draft water basin management plan next week. That sets out the strategic challenges and approaches we will take to the overall water environment in the coming six years.

Mr. Gleeson outlined the progress that has been made with regard to the urban wastewater treatment directive and that judgment against us. We liaise closely with the Commission. We sent our report to the Commission in recent weeks. One of the highlights, for example, was the completion of the Shannon wastewater treatment plant last April.

Two weeks after we forwarded the report to the Commission, as the Deputy Stanton, the Taoiseach opened the Cork Lower Harbour drainage system, which is a huge step forward in one of the most difficult areas in terms of untreated sewage given the complexity of the landscape there. A massive milestone was the turning of the sod on the Arklow wastewater treatment plant, which will cost more than €100 million and has been the subject of controversy for at least 20 years. Huge progress is being made.