Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)

I support amendment No. 2, proposed by Fianna Fáil's Deputies Niall Collins and Ó Cuív. Since the debate started this morning, it has become evident that the trick of the loop from the Minister is in getting people to register. Once there is a register and a database, the Minister can wash his hands of the process at a later stage by arguing that the EU is to enforce the latest standards. The implications of adhering to the latest standards have already been outlined by other Deputies. There are many houses around the countryside, for example, built on sites of less than half an acre, and cottages built long ago may have been built on a quarter acre. What will the people in such properties do if they must install the most modern percolation areas, which take up a vast amounts of ground, if they do not have it? The financial and social implications could be enormous.

Somebody may suggest that I am exaggerating. It would be great if the Minister could listen. Would anybody have believed that the EU would tell us that our stocking density and the retention period for sheep and cattle on farms must double, as it has done recently? It is trick of the loop again. Stock levels were fine in 2011 but they would have to be doubled, along with retention, to qualify for the single farm payment. I allude to this to show that once the register exists - including names, addresses and the locations of septic tanks - the people will be at the mercy of some EU body issuing a directive to the Government. It could stipulate that all the registered households must adhere to the latest standards. What would be the financial implications and why is the Minister not telling the people the truth and that they could be exposed to such a practice?

The Minister has made accusations of scaremongering against respectable politicians like Deputies Ó Cuív, Niall Collins, Mattie McGrath and Ferris, who have highlighted this issue and let the people know the truth. I also accuse them of something. I accuse them of giving information where the Minister did not and I accuse them of telling the truth when the Minister was holding back on letting the people know the truth. One of the most offensive elements of the process is the way this has been rushed through. At 1.30 p.m. tomorrow the vote will be held and the debate will be guillotined, all because the Government has a majority and can rush this through without proper debate.

I will address another matter. In earlier contributions, Deputies who support the Government gave the impression that people speaking out against this Bill really do not care about the countryside. Some people would like to give the impression that people from the country do not care about it. I met very respectable and nice people from Galway and Connemara today. They left their houses this morning at 5 a.m. and got on a bus when there were plenty of other things they could have done. I am grateful to them for coming. They came because they do not want a financial burden on their families but these people, living in the countryside, cherish the fact that they live there. Anybody with land does not just own it, they adore it. Anybody who does not own land does not appreciate or understand what I am saying. The people who own land and farm it do not see it in the same way as somebody who owns a glass; although they own the land they are only holding it for future generations. They want to pass it on to sons and daughters in pristine condition. That is the case with anybody who owns land. All they ever wanted to do was improve it and now they are being told that they cannot do that either, that they will have to apply for planning permission to open a drain or to knock a ditch. That is why people are angry and that is why politicians on the Opposition side of the House are excited and energised. We are trying to stand up for people. The Minister was inclined to snigger at the contributions of Opposition Members but he should remember that when he does that he is sniggering at the people outside of this House. They are people whom we respect and whom we are in the House to represent. I took offence at the suggestion that people did not care about the countryside. We want clean water as well as anyone else. Why, at a time when local authorities are guilty of polluting our waterways are we going after people with septic tanks and letting local authorities off scot free even though they have inadequate systems in place for towns and villages? They are the ones polluting the waterways not the people with septic tanks. I support amendment No. 2. Because of the Minister's contributions, not only is he the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government but he is also the Minister for total confusion, because that is what he is creating.

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