Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I thank the Deputy for raising the matter because it provides an opportunity to put some of the information on the public record, which is important. His broader point is also important, that is, we need at the right moment when these reports are completed the publication of the information as well as the scrutiny of it at the environment committee. I am sure Cork County Council and councillors in the area will want to do likewise because this has caused significant concern and we do and must take all pollution events seriously. As the Deputy rightly said, this is at the upper end of that. It has also had a very significant impact on the stocks in the river and while I hear different figures and number, potentially tens of thousands of fish have died, based on visual observations, data provided by local stakeholders and scientific estimates. I am assured though that there are some healthy stocks present and therefore we expect that while it will take time for stocks to recover, they will and the river remains open for fishing as well. Full details will go into the public domain. We will continue to keep a very close eye on this and I look forward to the Oireachtas environment committee scrutinising it as well.

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