Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael)

A couple of issues were raised, including that the Bill might be unconstitutional. Everyone has an obligation to protect their environment and to ensure that their impact on it is reduced and minimised. Legislation such as this produces a framework within which waste water treatment systems can comply.

Senator O'Brien referred to people in his constituency who have paid development charges recently. They will probably have treatment systems that are well-informed from an environmental point of view given that they were probably constructed relatively recently because development charges have not been in place for long. People in new constructions will register their treatment system under the legislation. I expect they would welcome the measure.

It is important that we know exactly what is going on as we do not see much pollution given that it is not visible. It is underground in the soil, ground water and aquifers. We must step back and take note of what is going on. Legislation such as this will enhance the planning and development of one-off housing in rural or semi-rural areas. I am in a similar constituency to Senator Darragh O'Brien that is composed of some rural but largely urban areas. The legislation is important. I welcome the fact that a methodology is put in place whereby inspections will be carried out and there is an obligation on householders operating waste water treatment systems - septic tanks as we know them - to register the provisions.

I share the concerns expressed by Senator Landy on older systems, especially those pre-1963, and systems that were constructed where they should never have been constructed because of the sub-soil or ground water system but nonetheless they were given permission. In the light of today's knowledge I envisage that difficulties will arise for some people. It is important that such concerns are raised at this stage.

Compliance with European environmental directives has been a good thing for this country. It has been one of the positive aspects of membership of the European Union. In many cases we have been brought kicking and screaming but we have addressed our environment. In this case we are dealing with air, soil, groundwater and aquifers. We have been forced to address these issues and have acknowledged the need to do so. We have established natural heritage areas and special areas of conservation. Our environment, heritage and countryside are the richer for that.

I am an urban dweller but I spend much time in rural areas. Farmers and rural people are in touch with their own environment. Many people welcome this development. This is a grey area. Last night I was looking at chat lines dealing with septic tanks and came across people who had bought a house ten years ago but did not know whether they had a septic tank or not. There will now be an obligation on a vendor to inform a purchaser of property that such a thing is in place. One could point to the fact that a surveyor did not point it out. However, there are now people who own dwellings and have no concept of what happens when they turn on a kitchen tap or flush a toilet.

This legislation is very important and welcome and puts a framework in place by which we can protect our much-valued environment.