Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

The proposed amendment to insert a provision in section 96 to the effect that the determination of compensation by a duly appointed arbitrator in regard to compulsory acquisition of a waterworks or waste water works shall be binding is unnecessary as such provision is already included in the relevant legislation governing the appointment of arbitrators. The purpose of section 96 is to itemise the relevant grounds that an arbitrator must have regard to when assessing an appropriate amount of compensation in a particular case. The introduction of a reference to binding arbitration detracts from the main objective of the section. This provision is already included in the relevant legislation which governs the appointment of arbitrators.