Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

The Minister has said the owner is responsible. If he comes to my house, I may not be sure what state the septic tank is in until the test is done. If the tank is working but the groundwater is polluted and I fight the issue in the courts, under the legislation, I will be criminalised if the Minister is found to be right and I am found to be wrong. I could still sue my builder who botched the job and might win a civil case against him or her, but I will be left with a criminal record. This is what will be on the register. That will go against me, for example, if I want to travel. That is the issue Sinn Féin has with this provision. This is happening in the case of fishermen from the Aran Islands who have been subject to European sanctions for administrative mistakes in log books. It is a serious issue that needs to be addressed.