Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

We have touched on a few areas that will be badly affected by Brexit, such as business, tourism and so on, but I wish to raise some of the environmental concerns relating to Brexit. It is estimated that 80% or 90% of the UK's environmental laws and regulations emanate from EU directives, which were significantly stronger than many of the steps the UK had taken before that. The British Parliament is currently dealing with an environment Bill to replace many of the EU directives. As we have discussed and seen, there has been quite a bit of backsliding by the UK on many of its commitments, particularly the level playing field approach.

The reality is that this will affect environmental regulation quite significantly. The UK environment Bill does not have a no-recession clause, opening up the prospect of further backsliding and further unlevelling of the playing field regarding environmental law and how it will affect both countries.

The reality is that we on this island have a homogenous and inseparable ecosystem. Whatever happens with a border, be it hard or soft, the rivers, other waterways and nature do not really respect it and do what they want. Damage done on one side will leak over and affect the other. It will undermine the level playing field.

Last year at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, Ms Alison Hough, representing the environmental pillar, called for island-wide regulation and cross-border environmental regulation. Obviously, if there are to be difficulties with the UK holding up its end of the deal it has already signed and if there is to be backsliding regarding the level playing field, they will be problematic. I would love to hear from the Minister of State our position and that of the EU on ensuring effective cross-Border regulation of the environment and on the protection of the homogenous and inseparable island-wide ecosystem.

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