Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

The Minister's last response provided some clarification on this issue in so far as he explained that the additional information will be used by the EPA to develop a national plan. The purpose of the Bill, as the Minister indicated and with which we all agree, is to ensure we have safe water courses and a safe water supply. There is both a public health and an environmental perspective. However, if we are looking at a hierarchy of risk to water courses, we must consider that many of those affected by these provisions do not live close to a water course which might be vulnerable to pollutants from their septic tanks. I have heard nothing about the main polluters. For example, despite the millions of euro invested in water treatment systems, Dublin and Limerick city councils are still unable to comply with the regulations.