Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Nixon-King and Mr. Kehoe for their opening statements, and I thank both organisations for attending. I understand the witnesses cannot comment on any issues that are the subject of ongoing legal proceedings. We all respect that.

I would like to know who is responsible for whatever is on or adjacent to the River Shannon. Having read the correspondence on the matter from various parties, there seems to be an issue with policing the river and the developments along the River Shannon. One of the statements lists various bodies, including Waterways Ireland, the councils, landowners, developers, business people, the courts, State and semi-State agencies, local communities, etc. It is impossible to police anything, whether on a river, on land or anywhere else, if so many organisations and community groups are involved. For what are Waterways Ireland and Westmeath County Council responsible on the River Shannon? Is their authority confined to the body of water and riverbed or does it extend to the riverbank? I ask my questions against the backdrop of developments that lead out into the river.