Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)

The debate has focused on standards and the prescribed date for publication of same. The legislation proposes that inspections will be carried out by inspectors licensed by the EPA. The Minister asked how we would solve this problem. I suggested some months ago to him that under-employed local authority engineers and technicians could do this work. Rather than go out with a stick with which to beat rural dwellers over the head, they could offer them advice and support in the of improvement of their systems.

I have previously raised the important size of sites issue with the Minister. His party, Fine Gael, represents large farmers. He knows this, as does Deputy Tom Hayes and Deputy Michael Creed who has left the Chamber. I will try not to be too political about this.

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