Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 5 November 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government

Issues Affecting the Quality of Water: Discussion

Photo of Victor BoyhanVictor Boyhan (Independent)
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In his response to my earlier question about litigation, Dr. Ryan said the EPA may order the treatment of water supplies, issue legal directions and take legal prosecutions. He said no legal enforcement may be required. He went into the history of it a bit and said he had doubts about the powers in respect of taking such action. I am a bit concerned by this. Dr. Ryan is telling us that he has doubts about the EPA's powers to take a prosecution. In the case of the Leixlip plant, he said no legal prosecution has ever taken place on this particular issue. That is a major concern to me and to the public. Can he clarify whether I misunderstand or am misquoting from what Dr. Ryan said? If he has such doubts, can he share them with the committee today?