Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Senator Feighan has always been at sea. I jest. I thank the witnesses for their presentation. I am Deputy Declan Breathnach from County Louth. Unfortunately we do not have much impact on canals. We do have the Newry Canal however, as well as the plans for a greenway, developed between Down District Council and Louth County Council. I would like Ms Livingstone to comment on the potential for linkages that one can see on the map. The colleague on my left will be more interested in the Ulster Canal. Is there an opportunity to link it to the vicinity of Portadown? The Newry Canal and the walkways are intended to go that far and the Ulster Canal does not seem to be too far away when one looks at the map. Are there plans to link them? That is my main point.

I compliment Ms Livingstone on her presentation. It was one of the better presentations I have seen in this committee and gave a very strong overview of Waterways Ireland. In speaking about the loughs it would be very remiss of me not to refer to my colleague Mr. Peter Savage on Louth County Council and his commitment to Waterways Ireland.

There are three issues I wish to discuss. One of them has been referenced. I would like the witnesses to elaborate a little bit further on Brexit. I know the agencies represented here have long been engaged in cross-Border projects and will continue to be. Could they comment on water rights and concerns around fishing rights, particularly in Derry and indeed Carlingford Lough? More recently, are the witnesses at liberty to comment on the impact the agencies might have on the development of Warrenpoint Port and the concerns arising from dredging there? There are certainly causes for concern regarding shellfish and oyster fishing in the lough. Several weeks ago I attended a briefing in Warrenpoint town hall at which the intentions for the port were outlined. Could the witnesses allay people's fears of what may happen regarding dredging and the disposal of waste into lough? Last but not least, I am very taken by the whole issue of the SeaMonitor project and I wish the Loughs Agency well with it.