Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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I move:

That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to establish a committee of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly to serve as a River Boyne Task Force with the function of proposing and promoting policies and priorities for the protection and enhancement of the environment of the River Boyne and of its natural habitats and wildlife and the co-ordination of the activities of public authorities in relation thereto; and to provide for connected matters.

I am pleased to introduce the Bill.

Rising in County Kildare, the Boyne river flows through the counties of Offaly, Meath and Louth. It is arguably the most historically significant river in the country as it winds its way through the landscape of Irish history and prehistory, dating back as far as the first settlers in Ireland.

The River Boyne is under serious pressure, not least from the threat posed by plans by a meat-processing firm to discharge treated waste into a river where water quality is already threatened and biodiversity is at risk.

This Bill is the brainchild of my colleague and County Meath Councillor Elaine McGinty, who is with us in the Gallery today. She is joined by one of our councillors in Drogheda, Emma Cutlip. It also takes its inspiration from our late friend and Louth Labour colleague James Lambe, the second anniversary of whose passing we marked two weeks ago. This is part of his legacy. It is also inspired by the good work of groups like Save the Boyne, Development Perspectives and the River Boyne Trust.

The Bill seeks to establish a committee of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly to serve as a River Boyne task force with the function of proposing and promoting policies and priorities for the protection and enhancement of the environment of the River Boyne and of its natural habitats and wildlife. Should the Bill be enacted, the Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly will establish a special committee, to be known as the River Boyne Task Force. The task force will be made up of members from each of the four councils in Kildare, Louth, Meath and Offaly and appointed members who have an interest or expertise in the protection and sustainable development of the River Boyne.

The functions of the task force will be to propose and promote policies and priorities for the protection and enhancement of the environment of the Boyne catchment and of its wildlife and natural habitats. The task force will co-ordinate, promote and support strategic planning and sustainable development in and around the Boyne catchment, and it will make recommendations to regulate and control pollution in and around the Boyne catchment. The task force will set out a vision for the Boyne catchment as a public amenity for current and future generations and ensure the river’s environmental sustainability, conserving its habitats and wildlife and monitoring the impact of climate change on the river.

The task force will seek to identify those areas in and around the Boyne catchment where detailed proposals and plans for renewal, preservation, conservation, restoration, development or redevelopment would be appropriate and include proposals relating to public access and public amenities, including public transport and pedestrian access to the Boyne catchment and its environs.

For the purposes of the Bill, the “Boyne catchment” is defined as the River Boyne from its source at Trinity Well in Demesne, County Kildare to an imaginary line drawn from The Haven in Baltray, County Louth to Mornington Point in Mornington, County Meath. It also includes all tributary rivers and streams and connected lakes and ponds and it includes the two canals, the Lower and Upper Boyne Navigations.

Additional functions include: to arrange to have carried out training, research or testing activities in relation to any of its functions; to promote public interest in, respect for, access to and enjoyment of the Boyne catchment as a public amenity; and to co-ordinate the activities of public bodies and other organisations and persons in connection with the protection and enhancement of the environment of the Boyne catchment and with the performance of its functions generally. In performing its functions, the task force must ensure that it does so in a manner which is consistent with and which achieves or promotes compliance with the requirements of both the habitats directive and the birds directive, so far as relevant.

The Bill envisages that the task force would consult with persons and organisations who are or are representative of users of the Boyne catchment and of the occupiers of lands in its neighbourhood. It must establish and maintain appropriate links with persons and organisations concerned with the management of the Boyne catchment or any part of it, with the aim of improved co-ordination in the formulation and execution of policies.

I look forward to a full debate on the Bill in this House on Second Stage and I hope that can be organised shortly. If passed I believe this Bill can be something of a template for the better management of all of our precious river systems across the country.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Is the Bill opposed?

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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No.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."