Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

This section enables public authorities, including local authorities, to submit an opinion to the EPA that the abstraction would be better regulated by the EPA despite it otherwise falling under local authorities' responsibility. It is an added element to ensure that abstractions that are identified as posing a risk to the relevant water bodies are properly controlled. Removing this section would weaken the EPA's capacity to ensure that appropriate regulation and protection of the environment is in place. Therefore, I cannot accept its removal.