James Heffernan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Yes, Third World countries. That only 43% of people have paid so far is an indictment of the entire Irish Water project and it is probably time it was put on the shelf with the e-voting machines and other projects that have been a total waste of money.

I agree with Senator Mary Ann O'Brien. A far more important environmental issue should be included in this miscellaneous provisions Bill, namely, the fact that the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, has immunity from any prosecution. I struggle to understand the reason there is a fear of abolishing immunity from prosecution for the EPA. If the EPA is doing its job properly in protecting the environment it should have nothing to fear from prosecution, nor should the State have anything to fear from prosecution.

In my neck of the woods there is huge mistrust of the EPA because of the way much of its work is carried out and many of its decisions are taken. People living on the Shannon Estuary around Foynes, Laughil, Shanagolden, Glin and Askeaton have had dealings with the EPA which have not inspired any confidence in that organisation. That the director general has stated it is not the job of the EPA to rush to prosecute polluters is a sad indictment of the organisation in itself. What is its function if it is not to protect the environment, our natural flora and the people's health?

In 2009, I raised the issue of a licensing agreement that came before the EPA board for Aughinish Alumina, which is in my neck of the woods. The recommendation was that a full bond should be in place before a licence was granted. At the second meeting of the EPA board that provision was scrapped. If that is not a reason to call for some sort of an inquiry, I do not know what is because this company was a proven polluter, according to the European Union, operating in my county and getting away with it without having to pay any bond. If an environmental disaster occurs, it will cost the taxpayer millions of euro to clean it up, and that is not taking into consideration the devastating effects it may have on human and animal health in the area.

The Minister has side tracked on the idea of appointing an external ombudsman to examine complaints against the EPA. On the last occasion a Minister came before the Seanad on this issue he told me that an acceptable form of wording could not be found to provide for such an ombudsman, which is a laugh. If the Minister's highly paid civil servants cannot find an acceptable form of wording, it does not inspire confidence.

The conservation grant must be the greatest oxymoron in recent Irish political history. Where is the incentive in handing a lad €100 and telling him to go away and save water for himself? That is baloney. I do not understand why the senior Minister thought that was a good idea. I imagine his coalition partners thought it was great gas because they would be able to hand out €200 cheques to local IFA meetings and hoodwink a Labour Party Minister once again. That is an issue the Minister has to examine.

I have the figures before me, and I can give a copy of them to the Minister of State, although I am sure the Minister is aware of them. Irish Water is in the red. It should be consigned to the history books. It is a project that was tried and has failed. The Minister is aiding and abetting the possibility that Irish Water, our rivers and lakes will be sold to the highest bidder, which would be a shameful day for us.

If the Minister is serious about the non-privatisation of Irish Water I ask her to reconsider inserting the provision to hold a referendum because the Labour Party may not be in government forever and she may have to deal with other forces who will be happy to privatise all and sundry. That is why the people need protection. I ask that the Minister of State would see fit to include that provision in the Bill.

I look forward to debating the issues further next week, and I hope Members of this House will have the courage to defeat this Bill and force a recall of the Dáil.