John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, to the House and thank him for bringing the Bill to the Seanad. It is always welcome to have Bills initiated in the Seanad as opposed to by our colleagues in the Lower House. I thank the Minister of State for this. The Bill seeks to provide modernisation of the registering, licensing and control regime for water abstractions. The Minister of State is right to point out that a detailed body of work was carried out by the Oireachtas joint committee on this matter. It was thrashed out. We had quite a lot of engagement from bodies on it. It is true to say these bodies expressed some concerns about some elements of the Bill. I look forward to these issues be teased out on Committee and Report Stages. This is particularly with regard to compensation for water abstractions.

In the Bill, the Minister of State is putting in place a simple registration system for water abstractions subject to a minimum threshold, and putting a more robust scheme in place. It is important that we update our legislation. The existing regime is based on legislation enacted in 1942 and 1964. I do not think any of us were around in 1942. It is always appropriate that we update legislation. We have obligations under the EU water framework directive. The Minister of State will agree that is important we get the delicate balance right. While we have to transpose water directives we must also ensure we get the balance right. Legislation is always black and white and there are very few grey areas. Sometimes we have to show flexibility in how we word it to ensure we get the balance right to protect our environment and look after those who are deserving of compensation where land is being sterilised or where there are crops. I look forward to teasing out the Bill on Committee and Report Stages. I thank the Minister of State from bringing it to the House today.