John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

The intention is laudable. It would be desirable that other local authority areas would be cognisant of the potential for pollution that might impinge on them but there would be a huge knock-on effect if the amendment was accepted. It could logically be argued that if a person was applying for planning permission for a house bordering a neighbouring local authority area, there would be an obligation on him or her to apply for planning permission in two areas. The amendment could be extended to apply to other activities which would not make sense. The subsection only deals with the activity, not its effects. If the local authority in Kildare discharges sewage into the River Liffey and it eventually reaches Dublin, there is nothing to preclude action by Dublin or the EPA against Kildare to stop the activity.