Mr. Ian Lumley:

I will conclude on some of the civic issues raised. Badgers were raised by Deputy Healy-Rae but the research remains unclear on the extent to which infection from badgers is passing to cattle herds. We mentioned the pilot scheme for the innoculation of badgers and this should be actively looked at as a future response. I cannot speak for the River Flesk but some very unrealistic proposals have been circulated for the flood levels in the Shannon, involving dredging. The Shannon has a large watershed catchment and substantial rainwater flow from tributaries which drain into it. There may be areas where some action is needed, subject to ecological appraisal, but the answer to flood relief on our river catchments is to look at best practice which is emerging in other European countries, which uses natural flood management. The report commissioned by Friends of the Earth Ireland suggests adopting an ecosystems approach to managing flood risk, which has multiple other benefits. On the issue of burning, we are all agreed on the need for collective action and for enforcement and if there is any justification for burning it needs to be done with proper control, supervision and ecological advice.

I was asked about the greatest impact of declining Irish biodiversity and the status report into habitats and species. This is in the NPWS document - it is not something we are saying. Deputy Collins raised the issue of kelp. While we have a very elaborate system for the advertisement of planning applications, with site notices, local authority websites etc., people in Bantry Bay missed out, as did the environmental organisations such as ourselves. The difficulty, as my colleague explained, is that we are very slim on resources and do not get any public funding for carrying out our role as an environmental organisation, which is to look at planning applications or consents in agriculture and fisheries and various big or small developments in various other areas.

Deputy Fitzmaurice raised the issue of water. We are promoting and supporting a catchment-based approach to water and managing the watershed, to ensure there is no problematic run-off. In the past, overgrazing of sheep caused an issue for water catchments and burning is clearly very damaging to surface water drainage and water catchments. I am happy to talk to Deputy Fitzmaurice about certain cases but I am not clear about the issue because everything to do with the relationship of the environment, ecology and human settlement is based on maintaining clean surface water and groundwater, to be able to extract drinking water from resources in appropriate locations and in an appropriate way. There is an assessment process to ensure, for example, that lakewater abstraction is not drawn down below certain levels. I am not at all clear as to what concerns the Deputy raised but I would be very happy to discuss them afterwards, as we always are to talk about individual issues with local communities, Members of the Oireachtas and local councillors.