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Drinking Water / EU Law on Misshapen Vegetables |
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Wednesday, 01 July 2009 |
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During the Order of Business in the Seanad, I said: The report of the Environmental Protection Agency issued this morning on drinking water should concern everybody. The survey it conducted showed 51% of drinking water is contaminated or below standard. It is mainly due, as far as I understand, to treatment plants and soilage entering river water. If the Seanad is to earn the respect of the nation, this is the very sort of thing we should be bringing to peoples’ attention. There is a possibility that we have introduced too many laws over the years, not just in Ireland but in Europe as well.
The good news is that one thing we can now sell and buy as of yesterday are misshapen vegetables. It was a law passed somewhere along the line in recent years. Europe passed it and we did the same. It meant those of us who are not worried about the shape of vegetables, especially those of us who are watching prices, could not sell vegetables unless they were of exactly the right shape. We had to throw away vegetables and not avail of their benefits. I mention this because we pass too many laws that are not of value to the nation. Other legislation introduced in Europe yesterday that is of benefit concerns roaming charges on mobile phones, which have been reduced dramatically because the European Parliament and Commission were able to say it was no longer acceptable to have such high charges. There are benefits in Europe. If we are to recognise Europe and the benefits we get from it, particularly with a referendum coming up, we should draw attention to the benefits we receive and work hard to ensure we do not pass silly laws as we have done in the past. |