Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)

When that happens, the Minister will be in the clear. He will be able to say that when he was Minister, it did not happen. When a zero is added is on, the figure will be €500.

More importantly, we are talking about environmental standards. The word "hypocrisy" was introduced to the debate. If the Minister really cares about water quality, what is his problem with the 2009 standards to which we do not have to adhere, as he keeps telling us? If we do not have to adhere to them, why are they in place? He can change them if he thinks they are too onerous. I ask him to, please, come clean now. What is his opinion on the standards? Are they too onerous? Is it too much hassle to keep water clean and is it all about codding the European Union again?

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