Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Lady's Island Lake in County Wexford is the largest saltwater lagoon in Ireland. It provides refuge for a variety of wildfowl. That is why it is protected under both the birds and habitats directives. It surrounds Our Lady's Island, which is a beautiful and ancient place of pilgrimage. Unfortunately, Lady's Island Lake is also highly polluted. The environmental protection agency, EPA, has been studying the lake for the past two years. The report it published in January makes for grim reading. It states, "the ecology of this lagoon has been severely damaged by nutrient over-enrichment resulting in harmful algal blooms and fish kills." It goes on to say:

The continued decline of Lady's Island Lake and other saline lagoons in Ireland will result in the loss of many specialised species, the disappearance of feeding grounds for migratory birds and reduce the recreational and aesthetic value of these waters.

One of the report's authors, Dr. Cilian Roden, told the Irish Independent in January last year that the situation is so bad, the lagoon's glow can be seen from space.

The EPA's research was discussed at the joint Oireachtas committee on environment last week. One point emerged crystal clear from the EPA report, namely that no improvement in the lake's ecology will be possible without a large reduction in nutrient run-off from land. It is important we do not frame this as blaming farmers, but the impact of nutrient run-off at this significant site is absolutely clear. So too are the recommendations from the EPA on how we can save Lady's Island Lake. We must enforce existing regulations on agricultural nutrients entering the lake, help farmers change their practices and improve the buffer zones around the water sources flowing into the lake.

The evidence put before the Oireachtas committee included a newspaper article from 1983 describing pollution in the lake. This is not some new environmental catastrophe; this problem has been in the making for more than 40 years and has been allowed to continue. All the various enforcement and accountability arms of the State, including local authority inspections, Teagasc and other mechanisms, failed to protect Lady's Island Lake.

If agricultural run-off is the recognised driver of the pollution of the lake, will the Taoiseach task the Minister for agriculture to take the lead here? Will he agree that it must be a priority to reverse the pollution of the lake? In light of the absence of sufficient action for more than four decades, a solution needs force and the political clout a senior Cabinet Minister brings in order to bring together the relevant stakeholders and ensure that they deliver. Will the Taoiseach task the Minister with ensuring that action is taken to stop an ecological disaster that is unfolding in real time and in full view of us all?

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