Dr. Eimear Cotter:

I have included on page 7 of the opening submission a chart that shows the main pressures on water quality. It shows 15 of them. The grey is 2018, the blue is 2021. The most prevalent pressure is agriculture, and wastewater is the fourth most significant pressure. It has been going down in recent years as a result of investment by Uisce Éireann in wastewater infrastructure, but it is still affecting 200 water bodies.

It is not correct to say that we do not call that out and we do not fulfil our role in terms of highlighting where those pressures are in terms of inadequately treated wastewater. We are the environmental regulator for Uisce Éireann and are carrying out inspections on wastewater and drinking water treatment plants on an annual basis. We are taking prosecutions where they are warranted. We have taken 28 prosecutions in total against Uisce Éireann for wastewater and nine for drinking water. Our focus is not solely on agriculture. We need to see all of these pressures come down to see water quality improve.