Ineffective penalties

A British water company was fined €230,000 yesterday for discharging raw sewage into the sea between January and June of last year.

That fine is in stark contrast to the average penalty imposed in this country for convictions on environmental offences.

An analysis of cases taken successfully by the Environmental Protection Agency shows that the average fine imposed on polluters in Ireland is a paltry €3,500, hardly the level of deterrent needed to protect our environment, especially our precious water supplies from those who would, and have been, habitual polluters.

The disparity underlines yet again our antipathy towards enacting legislation that would force local authorities, manufacturers, or farmers — and homeowners with less than efficient cesspits — to face up to their responsibilities.

It is well beyond time our courts were allowed impose penalties on polluters that would represent a real penalty and persuade offenders to mend their ways and behave responsibly.