Dr. Eimear Cotter:

I thank the committee for inviting the EPA to discuss the recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss. I am joined by senior management colleagues, Ms Mary Gurrie and Dr. Jenny Deakin, who deal with water quality monitoring and assessment in the EPA.

This meeting is focusing on water quality – rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal and groundwaters – upon which resilient and diverse aquatic ecosystems are so dependent. The quality of Ireland’s surface water resource is under significant pressure from human activities. The EPA’s most recent assessments show that just over half, or 54%, of surface waters are in a satisfactory condition, which means that a large number are not in good ecological health. The picture for our estuaries is even starker, with only 36% in a satisfactory ecological condition. The scale of the challenge to bring all water bodies to good or better ecological health by 2027, as required by the water framework directive, is therefore significant.

The quality of our waters is being damaged by activities that release pollutants into the water environment and damage the physical integrity of water habitats. The main causes are: the run-off of nutrients, sediment and pesticides from agricultural lands and farmyards; activities such as land drainage, navigational dredging and the presence of barriers such as dams, weirs and culverts in water courses; discharges of poorly treated sewage from urban wastewater treatment plants, domestic treatment systems and storm water overflows; and run-off of nutrients and sediment from forestry operations.

To address these pressures, the EPA highlights three areas for consideration by the committee that align with some of the recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss. The EPA agrees with the citizens' assembly that there needs to be a greater focus on the implementation and enforcement of biodiversity-related legislation. Our view is that full implementation and compliance with all existing environmental legislation is a must for the environment. Indeed, the European Commission, through its environmental implementation reviews, has highlighted areas where there is poor implementation of environmental law in Ireland. This includes a need to complete the Natura 2000 designation process for terrestrial and marine environments to ensure the legal protection of habitats and species. An increased focus on the protection of the marine environment is also required and the control of invasive species is important.

The EPA, as Ireland’s environmental regulator and through our oversight role of local authorities, will continue to ensure that environmental compliance and enforcement actions are prioritised and implemented. It is critical that local authorities fully implement and enforce the environmental legislation for which they are responsible, including agricultural inspections, septic tank inspections and trade effluent licensed discharges.

The assembly recommended more co-ordinated action and an overarching strategic approach at national level to address the biodiversity crisis. The EPA’s view is that there is now a significant opportunity to develop an overall integrated national environmental policy position. This would ensure that existing environmental protection measures succeeded and did not compete or have unintended consequences. Such a policy position could set out an ambition for protecting Ireland’s environment in the short, medium and long terms with the aim of having a clean and healthy environment that is valued and protected by all. Regarding water specifically, the next river basin management plan, which is almost two years overdue, is urgently required to provide a commitment on the necessary measures and clarity about roles, responsibilities and the timeframes for delivery.

The EPA encourages the committee to consider the need for targeted measures to achieve outcomes in water quality and the protection of aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity. Targeted measures should be specific to local conditions such as soil types, physical settings and water quality. A one-size-fits-all approach will not deliver the water quality and biodiversity outcomes that we need. The EPA has produced a range of tools and models to support the development of targeted measures, often referred to as the right measure in the right place.

As well as being essential for our health and well-being and our economy, clean water is essential for nature and wildlife, both for species that live in the aquatic environment and those that depend on it. Many of our national protected areas and habitats depend on good water quality. The EPA’s role in regulating emissions to air, water and land and radiological protection, and in providing the evidence base on the pressures impacting on the environment, supports the protection of nature and biodiversity. In this submission, we have highlighted three areas of focus for the committee that align with some of the recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss, covering full implementation and compliance with existing environmental legislation, policy coherence and the need for targeted measures.