Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

What we learn through ecology is that everything is connected. There is a connection in the marine. One of the biggest challenges with salmon as a species is what is happening in far distant waters off Greenland where the salmon go for their feeding and development before they return and those changes and everything that happens on the way, be it a fish farm with the whole issue of sea lice or military or other matters. The most sensitive aspect in that regard relates to cetaceans with the sonar effects on them being particularly acute. We work with the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan. Coming back to what the Senator said about our inland waters, the water quality issue is something for which they have the key responsibility. The EPA is the enforcement agency. It is critical that there is good connection and good swapping of information, analysis, data and work across all the agencies.

Just to back up, the other 50% goes to the IFI, but that is earmarked for rehabilitation and habitat improvement. It is not as if it is going into the general Exchequer coffers or any other source. It is all for good conservation, development and protection of our inland rivers.