Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

Okay. Amendment No. 2 relates to a matter that is similar to that we have previously discussed under section 3. We are seeking to ensure that inspectors are appointed from within the staff of the agency or local authority, in accordance with section 70E of the Bill. The Minister has said he appreciates that local authority staff are sufficiently competent to carry out this work. He has also said he will seek, as far as possible, to ensure local authority staff carry out this work. However, he does not seem to have the confidence to put that into the Bill. No legal provision is being made in the Bill for local authority staff to play a role. While I acknowledge what the Minister has said, it is regrettable that he is not backing up his words by including a provision of this nature in the legislation. Perhaps it is a reflection of the lack of local authority staff. The Minister does not seem to be willing to explore the possibility of increasing the number of local authority staff under the memorandum that was agreed with the Commission, the EU and the IMF.

I would like to speak about the role the inspectors will have when they visit one's property. Many people are concerned about this. We need to reflect on the role played by septic tanks on one's land. As the Minister knows, percolation areas are attached to septic tank systems. When an inspector comes to one's property, he or she will inspect one's septic tank and one's percolation area under the legislation on the basis of any regulations the Minister might sign regarding the maintenance, operation and servicing of septic tanks. It is unwise and unjust to this House that we are being forced to introduce this legislation without knowing what the maintenance, servicing and operation standards will be. We can only assume the Minister is proposing to introduce the 2009-10 standards of the Environmental Protection Agency. We could be wrong.