Malcolm Noonan (Green Party)

I join others in wishing Martin Groves all the very best. I also wish Martin Hughes the very best in his new role.

I want to raise an issue that was brought forward throughout the summer and particularly highlighted by the fish kill of up to 40,000 fish in the River Blackwater. It is an incident over which the EPA and everybody else seems to be wringing their hands, yet they are unable to determine the source of the fish kill. It was a serious incident of environmental pollution to add to the many others across the country. We seem to be heading into a space where water quality is declining across the country.

In response to Senator Boyle's suggestion of having a discussion on Irish Water, I would welcome an opportunity for the Seanad to debate water quality generally at some point during this term. We are looking at nitrates levels increasing again. We all want to see the derogation retained but it is going in the wrong direction, unfortunately. Last week, I visited Our Lady's Island in Wexford with my colleague, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman. We met representatives of communities there and looked at something that has been going on since 1983, with no real progress to speak of. We have a serious issue as regards water quality and bathing water quality. We have a water action plan and increased enforcement at local authority level but at the same time we have a really significant challenge and I would welcome an opportunity to have a debate on that.

The second issue I want to raise concerns the corporate sustainability due diligence directive. This morning, I met representatives of Trócaire, the Irish Environmental Network and development organisations outside the gates of Leinster House. They are campaigning to stop the watering-down of the directive, which will impinge negatively on human rights, workers' rights and environmental regulations. It is important for the Irish Government to play a very active role in ensuring the directive is not watered down. It is really important that the corporate sustainability due diligence directive maintains a high standard of environmental and workers' rights right across the EU. If it is as proposed and in line with some of the proposals that are coming out, the directive will be completely ineffective as a measure. It is important that the Government plays a very active role in ensuring that the directive is as strong as it can be.