Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and some Independent Deputies have for the past year opposed this registration and inspection regime for ground water quality. In spite of that, 80% of people who have septic tanks have registered.

I thank them very much for this response in spite of the advice given by people not to even register when the fee was €5 at the end of last September. Many people in the Opposition cost citizens €45 in additional expenditure because they gave them very bad advice. We have carried out a major campaign to alert people to the fact Ireland has a European Court of Justice ruling against it. It is important to have good quality groundwater and an important part of the judgment is that people register. Without having a database, I would say the voluntary response from people has been magnificent and I thank them for it.

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