TONY LOWES,
Madam, - Mr Martin Cullen's apparently frank admission that group water scheme quality will not reach the legal standards in time for the new Water Framework Directive on January 1st, 2004 neatly ignores the fact that only two months ago the European Court of Justice ruled that Ireland had infringed the existing Drinking Water Directive.
The court specifically rejected Ireland's plea of "substantial corrective measures which have been taken" or that the "historical and cultural reasons for the creation of those schemes" was a justification for supplying water unfit for human consumption.
It stated that the directive "does not establish a mere duty of diligence but an obligation to achieve a particular result".
Further, the court required Ireland to amend its legislation so that the operators of group water schemes will be legally liable for the supply of contaminated water.
What is focusing the Minister's mind is not a forthcoming directive, but the increasing likelihood of daily fines for non-compliance with this important judgment of the European Court of Justice. - Yours, etc.,
TONY LOWES,
Friends of the Irish
Environment,
Allihies,
Co Cork.