Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am disappointed that our amendments were ruled out of order. I reiterate the concerns about the current threshold. Given that the primary purpose is to modernise the legislation, basing it on the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977, legislation enacted over 40 years ago, seems contrary to the very aim of the Bill.I said on Second Stage that the proposed threshold equates to approximately enough water to supply 42 households or fill 140 wheelie bins per day. There are at least 21 water-bottling plants in the country. None of them abstracts enough water to pass the proposed threshold for licensing. Only five abstract enough water to even require registration. As we pointed out before, the cumulative effect of the thresholds makes it unlikely that we will put on record Ireland's current abstraction levels. In this regard, what happens in the North has been pointed out. Our thresholds are a vast departure from recent trends across Europe, including in the North and Scotland.

Could the Minister of State clarify how the agency will determine whether abstraction below 25 cu. m is causing a deterioration if it is not registered? Could I clarify how the proposal is consistent with the finding of the Court of Justice of the European Union that member states must refuse the authorisation of projects where deterioration may occur?