Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Deputy for her focus and attention along with her colleagues on this matter. It is the responsibility of Inland Fisheries Ireland to continue to safeguard the fish stock and the habitat within the River Blackwater near Mallow. The Minister of State is extensively engaging on the management plan moving into the future regarding this significant incident. As the Deputy said, three key measures have been established: the joint emergency protocol, the independent review and we and the Minister of State are examining legislative amendments to strengthen IFI's enforcement powers and to ensure that we continue to work with other agencies regarding future and faster responses in the context of the significant incidents that occurred in Cork. The Deputy can be assured that my Department and all of its officials working with IFI are very much focused on what the learnings will be and how we can implement them into any future responses.

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