Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

The purpose of this amendment to subsection (2)(b) is to broaden the scope of application of the power to halt a vehicle to include circumstances where there are reasonable grounds for believing that an offence is being or is about to be committed. For example, such an offence could occur if a bulk tanker illegally discharged its load into a sewer through a roadside manhole. It may not always be possible to link such incidents with a threat to human health or the environment. Consider the example of the bulk tanker, for instance. While its contents may not adversely affect the waste water treatment process per se, it would nevertheless be essential for an authorised person to have the appropriate powers of intervention before evidence was disposed of down the sewer. It is very sensible and practical to include this amendment and I hope the House will accept it.