Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senators for their valuable contributions to the debate in connection with this key legislation. As the legislation progresses through the House, we will be happy to work with Senators to try to reflect many of the contributions that were raised in the legislation.

I wish to point out initially, in relation to the pre-legislative scrutiny report, that the Department took on board suggestions therefrom. It was a catalyst to respond to some of the key changes that were in the legislation. Some of the recommendations from the report may not be in it word for word, but they clearly informed the response to draft the legislation. We will commit to prepare a report on the pre-legislative scrutiny report for submission to the Seanad to explain how we were informed by the issues raised within the report, how we responded to that and how they were a catalyst to assist us.

The constructive debate that we had today follows on from the detailed pre-legislative scrutiny, as I referenced, that the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage gave to the general scheme of this Bill more than a year ago. I fully appreciate the support that has been expressed by some Members for the Bill. We are happy to have the opportunity to work with the Seanad before the Water Environment (Abstractions and Associated Impoundments) Bill 2022 is enacted.

The purpose of this Bill, as stated, is to set out the controls on the abstraction and impoundment of water, to protect our water environment and to ensure compliance with Ireland’s responsibilities under the water framework directive. The focus of the Bill is on the largest abstractions in Ireland and those smaller abstractions that may be causing short-term or ongoing environmental damage. The Bill will ensure that our surface and ground waters are carefully managed to prevent risk of over-abstraction and provide the Environmental Protection Agency with the powers to operate a modern, risk-based licensing regime.

The Bill delivers one of Ireland’s key responsibilities under the water framework directive. At a time of changing climate and uncertainty over the sustainability of our drinking water resources, the Bill will ensure our most valuable natural resource is protected into the future.

I wish to respond to another few points that were raised. Senator Garvey raised the issue of harvesting. We will raise that point with Irish Water and it is a sensible one. Senator Fitzpatrick raised the issue of thresholds. These thresholds will obviously be risk-based. That is the key thing in relation to the setting of them. If the EPA recommends any changes regarding the thresholds, we can then do that. It would be in its hands to recommend that. On Senator Warfield’s point on abstractions and local authorities, they will be enforcing them. As a reference, as part of the EPA, the local authority assessments will be carried out on water pressures that will be identified through the various different bodies. As I outlined, it will be risk-based.

In addition, I committed to doing the report for the pre-legislative scrutiny and any other issues. I want to assure people there will not be a two-tier system of licensing and licences can be suspended on environmental grounds.

We can respond to specific points other Senators may have raised. We are happy to organise briefings within the Department through the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, to achieve a balance for people so they fully understand and appreciate what we are trying to do. Critically, the most important point is that we absolutely took on board the joint committee pre-legislative scrutiny report and that was a catalyst for many of the actions that were taken in this legislation. We are happy to do a report for the House on that.