Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael)
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The representatives from the SFPA should elaborate a bit more on its environmental remit and in particular its protection of designated marine areas in accordance with environmental legislation, as Dr. Steele has described. Is the SFPA the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, equivalent of the high seas? What is the crossover and where does SFPA's jurisdiction begin and that of the EPA end? With regard to Deputy Pringle's point, if there is a diminution of water quality, for example, if a designated shellfish area experiences a diminution of water quality, does the SFPA go after whoever causes the pollution that affects the shellfish? One of the jobs of work for Irish Water is to address the problem in some coastal towns where there is no proper sewage treatment or sewage systems and where raw effluent makes its way into bays. Is it the SFPA's remit to take on the local authority or whoever is causing the pollution in designated areas?