Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The report says it is only approximately €50,000 to connect it to the council system. The reply from the Department sheds some light on the situation there and outlines two main issues. The first issue is whether Tipperary County Council has significant capacity to take the wastewater from the treatment plant. The second issue is the wider examination being undertaken by the Department regarding the alignment of the ownership of the Environmental Protection Agency certificate of authorisation of small-scale wastewater treatment plants to bring certainty to their long-term operation and maintenance. The first point seems to be covered insofar as the county council made an application on 17 September 2019. It appears to be the second point where there is an issue. It is basically the fundamental aspect of taking in charge the transfer of the long-term responsibility or the ownership of the wastewater treatment unit.

This is causing a lot of distress to this chap. It is going on since 2004. He had an agreement with the council at the time, but events took over. The recommendation is that it be sent back to him.

As I said at yesterday's meeting, I imagine he has got the same documentation on numerous occasions since 2004. We will see. Is the secretariat's recommendation agreed? Agreed.

Petition No. P00043/21 from Mr. Fernandos Ongolly concerns support access to employment for non-EEA PhD students' spouses in Ireland. The secretariat corresponded with the Department of Justice on this petition on behalf of the petitioner. The Department replied and its response was forwarded to the petitioner. The petitioner provided a very comprehensive response. The committee recommends that the correspondence from the petitioner be forwarded to the Department of Justice for comment and the petitioner be notified of same. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Petition No. P0006/22 from Mr. John O'Malley states that by-elections in Ireland may comply with legislation but they do not comply with the Constitution. The secretariat corresponded with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on this petition on behalf of the petitioner. The Department responded and its response was sent to the petitioner who replied. The petitioner’s reply was sent to the Department who responded for a second time advising that, among other things, the programme for Government commits to examining the replacement of by-elections with an alternate list system. It also commits to establishing an independent electoral commission, which is being processed through the Electoral Reform Bill 2022, currently being debated in the Houses of the Oireachtas. The committee recommends that the latest correspondence from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage be sent to the petitioner for further comment. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Petition No. P0008/22 from Mr. James Walsh concerns the banning of herbicides in public places. The secretariat has corresponded with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and with the 31 local authorities on this petition on behalf of the petitioner. The Department responded and its response was forwarded to the petitioner. The Department also presented to the committee on this petition and the petitioner has now replied to the Department via the secretariat. Approximately two thirds of the local authorities have also responded regarding their use of herbicides in public places. Wicklow County Council responded and was identified as a local authority with a proactive, environmentally friendly approach to herbicide use. That county council has recently presented a very comprehensive report to the committee. The committee recommends that Mr. Walsh’s comments and attachments be forwarded to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for further comment. Do members have a view?