Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

The House will be satisfied to hear the information I have available to me on what the previous Government intended to do. I came across a brief regarding septic tanks and other onsite waste water systems on the file dated October 2010. A Renewed Programme for Government agreed on 10 October 2009 includes a commitment to introduce a scheme for the licensing and inspection of septic tanks and waste water treatment systems. On 29 October 2009 the European Court of Justice ruled against Ireland in relation to the disposal of waste water from septic tanks and the ECJ ruling highlights deficiencies in the existing Irish legislation. Therefore, we need the legislation. There is a legal obligation on Ireland to address the ruling which will require new legislation to be brought forward to provide for the setting of standards for the performance and operation of septic tanks and other onsite waste water treatment systems, and the monitoring and inspection of the performance of such treatment systems.

That is what Fianna Fáil intended to do. It wanted to introduce a universal inspection of all septic tanks. It wanted an annual inspection charge of €300 and to implement the 2009 EPA code of practice in respect of septic tanks.