William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will ask a question on the habitats. There were a couple of issues that arose. We can work to get down to test the quality of the water and we can identify the source eventually, and we will get there. However, a habitat is something that I cannot get my head around because a habitat is something that if we touch it, we have broken the habitat. Can Mr. Callanan just explain that when he gets a second?

We are talking today about free flow and rivers. Looking back at this country 50 or 60 years ago, I can remember the dredger as a little boy. We used to love to see the dredger coming. The dredger is gone; it has ceased operation. The rivers are all overgrowing. There are trees lying in the rivers. The debris and sludge in the rivers and everything are nearly up to the top of the banks at this stage.

The flow in rivers is nearly gone completely. Anybody will tell you that; just ask any old person about the depth of the bank. I spoke to an 84-year-old man the other night while walking the river with him where he was getting flooded. He told me that, at one time, if someone slid in off the bank, he or she would have to get pulled up out of it. Now, if one is not careful, one could walk off the bank into the river. The water is level with it. Is the likes of that making a difference?

I will say one other thing at this stage. We all know about the number of roads and estates that have been built and all the different developments that have taken place. We also know about all the run-off from the roads. I see it myself when it rains. All of that is going into the one river as well. There is only one river in most towns and villages in this country. In my case, the River Triogue takes every drop of water out of the town of Portlaoise until it joins the River Barrow at two places. Surely, we have to take that into consideration. As was said, it cannot be just the farmer on his own.

Will the Department outline how often it has engaged with Irish MEPs and the permanent representation in Brussels? They will make the decision at the end of the day. That is fierce important. They will vote on this, the very same as us in the Dáil Chamber. Are the officials happy enough that all of that engagement has taken place?