Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I am not convinced by the Minister's argument. This amendment does not represent an attempt to give criminals the opportunity to find the easy way out but an effort to concentrate the mind of the statutory body on prosecuting within the shortest possible space of time. Deputy O'Dowd's intention was that the necessary resources would be provided to the local authority to ensure that the maximum amount is spent on the investigation with a view to identifying sources and administering the necessary punishment.

If the culprit in the case of the water supply in Galway was brought to book, would it be better that the prosecution took place within five rather than three years? The preferable response would be to prosecute immediately. I am not suggesting for one moment that the Minister will be prosecuted or imprisoned but postponing the response to any offence will not necessarily improve the quality of the service. I will not begin a long tirade on the countless questions I have put down on that subject to the Minister and his predecessors. I have repeatedly attempted to remind the responsible authorities of the need to ensure adequacy and quality of domestic water supplies. Any deviation from that requires a response and the more immediate, the better. There is little to be gained by saying we might not have the evidence. It did not take long to discover the real culprits for the water pollution in Galway. I do not propose to press the amendment but the Minister's reluctance to accept it will reflect on him and his Department.

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