Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

I acknowledge that the Minister has extended the time from ten to 20 days. During the course of the debate we sought to have the time extended as well. I agree with Senator Ó Clochartaigh that it was disingenuous of the Minister to single-handedly accuse both Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil of not wanting to protect the public water courses. Considering the record of this House and the Dáil, the Minister would clearly see that the amendments - certainly from my own party - were geared to protecting the water courses, although we would achieve it a different way, ensuring that standards would be published before legislation is enacted. We are approving legislation affecting septic tank owners but the Minister will have a consultation and bring in his own standards anyway.

The Minister may use the 2009 standards, although he has indicated on numerous occasions that he will use the Phil Hogan standard. I can assure the Minister of what will happen if that occurs, and he knows exactly what will happen. An Taisce and environmental groups will go straight to the European Commission in Brussels, and Ireland will be brought to court again because we would not be in compliance with the current standards, as set down by the European Commission in 2007 and accepted by the Environmental Protection Agency guidelines in 2009. People from An Taisce will be listening to every word being said in both Houses. They may have accused me of going too far but I will not apologise to An Taisce because it has tried to close down rural Ireland on many occasions by objecting to An Bord Pleanála. It does some excellent work but its efforts in objecting to planning permissions for young local couples goes beyond the call of duty.

There is talk of this being unprecedented. The wetlands regulations were introduced on 8 September last year and then public consultation was initiated for four weeks; that was after the signing of the regulations. How can we stand here and accept that a Minister will bring in a regulation when the consultation in that case came after signing the regulation into effect?

With regard to the specific amendment, I welcome that the provision for a ten-day period will be changed to 20 days. Accusations were made from the Government side of the House that Fianna Fáil brought in certain offences and penalties in the 2007 Act. It was geared towards massive and widespread industrial pollution, dealing with a specific case in County Wicklow.