Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

As currently worded section 22(6)(a), which enables an authorised person to direct the owner or occupier of premises to take corrective measures to remove a risk to human health or the environment, could be interpreted as applying only to water services providers regarding the water services activity carried out by them. This is not the intention of this subsection, which is intended to apply in respect of all premises. Such powers are essential to enable water services authorities adequately to carry out their public health protection role under the Act.

This amendment therefore removes the reference to service activity in line 23 and provides explicitly that the powers of authorised persons to require corrective action to be taken applies in respect of water services or waste water present in any premises and to any associated infrastructure in premises.