Mr. Michael Barrett:

This problem has arisen because a developer developed without any regard for planning issues. He went ahead willy-nilly without any regard for property rights or ownership of property. The property is owned by Waterways Ireland. That was completely disregarded. He built on property owned by Waterways Ireland, disregarding planning, and none of the authorities seems to be doing anything about it.

That accident went before a District Court in Athlone. Two young people who had the accident prosecuted and the judge ruled that it was an unauthorised development. Waterways Ireland and Westmeath County Council both gave evidence stating that it was an unauthorised development. There has been another very serious accident since then, which is in the process of going to court, but who has the liability for these accidents? The one that is going to court at present-----