Caít Keane (Fine Gael)

Put more cost on the system. That is what the Fianna Fáil Party is proposing. Inefficient septic tanks pollute surrounding soil and may release climate change gases such as methane into the atmosphere. The reduction of these gases is necessary. Waste water discharge feeding into surface waters can pollute drinking water sources. Nobody mentioned the drinking water for livestock. The animals do not know from looking at the water what is good and what is bad. This Bill will provide good drinking water not alone for humans but for livestock as well. We all realise there is a need for the legislation and it is important that we avoid the imposition of penalties and fines where possible.

To illustrate further the need for legislation, the HSE recently produced a report on the quality of drinking water from private wells - let me stress these are private wells, because I do not want to be a scaremonger - which revealed a staggering 76% non-compliance with standards required under the European Communities (Drinking Water)(No. 2) Regulations 2007.

Scotland was mentioned. They are ahead of the posse and did not have to be dragged kicking and screaming.