Septic tank issue fury sees Ferris ordered out
NORTH Kerry/ west Limerick Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris was ordered from the Dáil on Thursday as debate over a one-off €50 registration charge for septic tank owners turned into heated argument inside Leinster House.
Claiming that Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore had refused to answer a question about those who could not afford to upgrade their tanks, Sinn Féin's agriculture spokesperson persisted in his questioning despite being asked to desist.
Deputy Ferris was one of several TDS, including Deputy Michael Healy Rae and Tom Fleming, who were involved in heated verbal exchanges at the report stage of Water Services Amendment Bill which was eventually passed on a vote of 76 to 34.
Deputy Ferris had called on the government to indicate the grant aid that would be provided to help people meet the necessary EU standards. Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan, meanwhile, said he could only look at the possibility of financial assistance once the inspections had been completed and denied that the €50 fee would increase as it was written into legislation.
Also during the debate, Deputy Healy Rae claimed that the government was giving "nonsense" answers about the standards that would be applied adding that it was "terrorising the people of rural Ireland".
Speaking afterwards the Kilgarvan deputy claimed the government had "sold the people a pig in a poke".
"We demanded questions from the minister in a professional way but he left himself down very badly as he just insulted the people who asked questions he did not want to answer. Government supporting TDS say they want to reverse cuts on rural Ireland but they say one thing in Dublin and another thing when they are back in their constituencies," he added.
Over 500 demonstrators were outside Leinster House as the debate raged. Discussion will now proceed within the Seanad before possible ratification.
- KEVIN HUGHES
