Results 4,841-4,860 of 5,132 for speaker:Trevor Ó Clochartaigh

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I am not sure. The question is whether a group scheme-----

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: In fairness, I am talking about the interpretation that could be taken from a domestic wastewater system-----

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Could it be misconstrued?

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: For example, the Minister said earlier it would be good to encourage group schemes where a number of houses come together. Is that a domestic wastewater system or is it a group scheme? What is the difference? Does there need to be a little more thought applied to the definition of a domestic wastewater system? I ask these questions because I do not wish to-----

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: My question is about the information to be gathered. I would imagine that one of the questions on this prescribed form would be whether a person's house was connected to a domestic wastewater system, to a group scheme or to a local authority scheme. What is the difference? I accept the bona fides of the Minister if he tells me it is not intended that anybody on a local authority scheme...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: In fairness to Senator Landy, a septic tank is only mentioned in one or two places in the Bill. The references in this Bill are to a "domestic wastewater system". This is why I raise the issue. I will find the reference for Senator Landy later. It is important to clarify this specific issue. Is the Minister completely certain that he is not referring to every house, all houses, in this...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I thank the Minister for the clarification he has given regarding houses. He said that individual houses, rather than public authority or group scheme houses, will not be connected. In fairness, that is not written into the Bill. The definition of "domestic waste water treatment system" in the Bill is "a system involving physical, chemical, biological or thermal processes, or a combination...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: The definition includes "all septic tanks and waste water tanks and systems receiving, storing, treating or disposing of domestic waste water and all drains associated with such tanks or systems". It is clear.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: The Bill says that it is a "system".

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: It includes "waste water tanks and systems". Is a public scheme not a system of some sort that takes away domestic waste?

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: This is the point I am trying to make. In fairness, I honestly feel this is a serious issue. It needs to be examined by the Bills Office. I believe the potential exists for the definition to be misconstrued. It could be argued that it covers all houses, as has been mentioned. I appreciate that Senator Landy was talking about houses connected to septic tanks. I do not think that is what...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: That may well be, but it is not the case that it could be misconstrued nonetheless?

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: That does not mean it is right.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Is mór agam deis a fháil labhairt ar an rún seo. Tá cuid de na rudaí faoin Bhille seo sách doiléir....sin an pointe a bhí mé ag iarraidh a dhéanamh. I welcome the robust debate that is taking place and the clarification and bona fides of the Minister. I believe he is telling us how he sees it and how it will play out. In recent years we have had different Ministers for the...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I appreciate the Minister's reply. It strikes me as strange that if we have been found to be in contravention of an ECJ ruling, which obviously lays down a certain standard for water quality, that the ruling did not indicate a proper water quality standard to be adhered to. Therefore, it is strange that officials in his Department would not have said that when the water quality is checked,...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: They should be part of this debate so we are clear-----

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Will that happen before or after the Bill is enacted?

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I thank the Minister. I still feel it would be great to make it clear to people what the regulation and the inspection should be in advance, but I appreciate his answer. However, it raises another question. If a person built a house 20 years ago and since then the area has been designated an SPA, an SAC, an NHA or whatever, the Minister states that there will be a planning exemption in...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Yes.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I would like it to be noted that I do not agree with the Chair's ruling.