Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

How are we expected to vote on something if we do not know what the criteria will be? The Bill provides that the Minister will take it in by regulation which would mean that after the Bill is passed the Minister will sign in by regulation, maintenance servicing and operating guidelines to be agreed, I assume, between the EPA and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. How can we go forward on the basis that some time in the future, a Minister will sign a regulation that will take in the standards with which 475,000 septic tank owners will have to comply? If the bar is set too high, we are in trouble. If the bar is set too low, Europe will come after us again in the courts, but there is no grant aid available to meet any update costs. That is where the problem lies with the Bill.

We agree with a registration system because it is needed. We do not agree with the fee attached to it, and this can be seen from our amendments. Before a registration system in the Bill is brought in, we want to bring in a de-sludging system, which is referred to in article 12 of the European directive. Any costs should be borne by the Department under the retrofit grants scheme up to a maximum of 85%. There is nothing in the Bill on that. Our amendments were ruled out of order.

This amendment relates to costs that can be passed on to individuals. For example, the ordnance survey maps or others may be required. As Senator Mooney has outlined, we do not know what will be on the application form. Will the individuals living alone be able to fill in the application form? Even though they do not need planning permission, will they need to go to a solicitor or a REPS planner to fill in the form? If that is the case, they could be charged at least a couple of hundred euro to get a form filled in, maps attached and sent to the local authority. There are hidden charges built into this that are not clarified.