Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I could not agree more. As a former manager of Bord Fáilte and Fáilte Ireland, I could not agree more with Senator Norris, but from a tourism point of view that is huge. Tourism is critical to this country and we cannot continue to give that example to people. We must look forward and deal with this issue.

According to last week’s EPA report on wastewater treatment in 2013, there are 44 areas, including seven large urban areas, where largely untreated sewage is running into our rivers and seas, including popular seaside towns such as Cobh, Youghal and Bundoran. As the father of young kids, this is simply unacceptable, and cannot continue.