Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, to the House. I formally second the motion. In doing so, I acknowledge the near-lifelong commitment of the proposer, Senator Garvey. A schoolteacher by trade, she has visited hundreds of schools, especially in the counties of Galway and Clare, extolling the virtues and benefits, and emphasising how vital clean water is and how important water conservation is for us all.

That is because water is life. Without water we cannot live, nor can the millions of species which inhabit the Earth. If pollutants flow into the sea, including discharges of untreated wastewater, the coastlines wither. We have seen what happens in Dublin Bay when untreated effluent is discharged into the sea. Not only is it dangerous for swimmers but it is damaging fragile coastal ecosystems on which birds, sea plants and others depend. Ireland has a rich diversity of ecosystems and wildlife in its lands, its freshwater and its marine environments. Much of Ireland's richest diversity can be found in the marine environment where there are high numbers of whale and dolphin species, large seabird breeding colonies and cold water coral communities in the deep seas.

Peatland restoration policies will contribute to the regulation and flow of quality water. In my home county of Kildare, we are working on an initiative to establish a new peatlands park. This is because County Kildare has the scientific, educational and the tourism infrastructure to be not just a gateway but the heartland of the national peatlands park of Ireland. This will recognise and celebrate our peatlands' cultural and ecological heritage and ongoing contribution to our economy and society in the midlands.

Buffer strips along water bodies are often used to reduce the run-off of nutrients, chemicals and sediments from farming. Vegetation in the landscape supports local climates, including rainfall and groundwater infiltration, as well as water security for farming and livestock.From studies and analysis carried out by the EPA, the implications of overuse of fertilisers are very clear. They show damaging concentrations of these nutrients in our watercourses. Eminent Kildare environmentalist Lorraine Benson is on record as saying the era of over-polluting must come to an end. We must rebalance nature and return the land, our water and our ecosystems to a natural equilibrium.

The most recent data on water quality were provided from 2019 by the EPA in the water quality indicators report, which highlighted that agricultural activities are the most significant source of pollution in Irish waters, with a direct impact on 53% of the 1,460 water bodies monitored. While agri-environmental schemes are helpful and to be welcomed, the issue is that there is too much fertiliser and slurry being spread across huge areas of the country. What is necessary is a fundamental shift in intensive farming practice and a recognition of the issues and the ambitious actions required to remedy the problem.

In remedying the problem, farmers, who are doing their best in tough, challenging times, must be incentivised. We are pushing an open door with farmers but we must incentivise the custodians of the land to make what I am suggesting feasible. We have to support farmers. In order to get where we want to go, there should be no diminution in quality of life or income for farmers. I know and can safely say that the proposer of the motion, Senator Garvey, who is from rural Ireland, would 100% advocate that. Farmers need support. If they are given it, they will rise further to the challenge.

As the national environment officer with An Taisce, Dr. Elaine McGoff, recently stated, significant changes will be necessary in our agricultural model if we are to align it with policies such as the EU farm-to-fork and biodiversity strategy. It will require concrete action and difficult decisions, not just noble ambition.

I look forward to a robust debate. Motions have a place in this House, as have Bills. The Green Party has a number of Bills coming before the House in the next couple of months, all going well. Of all the motions one can think of, is there anything more important than the water that keeps us all alive? We should set aside a regular time to debate water, the quality of water, and how to improve it for the betterment of society. The Opposition does not need any advice from me, but it should hold the Government to account and challenge the Government. At the end of the day, there is a way to achieve a win-win. A rising tide lifts all boats. Striving for and achieving improvement in our water system in producing cleaner, safer water is a win-win for this generation and for generations to come.