Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

Not at the moment. If the manner in which business is dealt with in this House is anything to go by, I would not have time to do anything else. It appears we will be here until the early hours of tomorrow morning if the Government insists on pushing through this legislation. Fianna Fáil is determined that each and every one of the amendments will be dealt with and that each section will be dealt with appropriately. Perhaps when the Minister responds to questions he will explain why it is necessary to rush this legislation. It could take a further two days in the House, be it next Friday or Monday, or Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday of next week. Any of these days could be used to finish the Bill without having to keep everyone here until the early hours but if that is what is needed then, unfortunately, that is the way it will be.

Senators Ó Domhnaill, O'Donovan and Ó Clochartaigh referred to the matter of prior notice. Will the Minister elaborate on what is meant by this? Does someone get a telephone call in the morning explaining an inspector will be there in the afternoon or is there a seven day or 14 day notice? What notice is given? The powers to be vested in an inspector are draconian. Those of us brought up in the countryside were taught to believe that the only people who could enter one's premises without a warrant were officials from the Customs and that even the Garda had to have a warrant to enter one's premises. If the power is to be given to an inspector of septic tanks that is not available to the Garda then we have serious questions to answer.

We have tabled amendments and perhaps the Minister can offer a comment on this point. In Northern Ireland everyone is entitled to one free de-sludging per year. As a minimum, this should be offered to people in rural Ireland who do not have access to sewerage works as those in towns and cities. Senator Keane alluded to the regulations. What is the problem with our examining those regulations in conjunction with this legislation?