Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

This amendment, as well as ensuring that action is concentrated nearer the time of the offence might also have the unintended effect of making the prosecution of such offences more onerous. The advice obtained from the Office of the Attorney General indicates that five years is a standard provision which applies, for example, in the waste management and environmental protection codes. I do not see why we should constrain a local authority by making a prosecution under this Bill more difficult than is the case with the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992. Perhaps if the Deputy reconsidered the issue, he would understand that five years is a prudent provision in other environmental legislation. We should not provide for a shorter period and I ask him to withdraw the amendment.

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