John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 1136: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that tourists on the Shannon (details supplied) are asked to flush their toilets straight into the river; his views on this practice; the steps he will take to deal with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28437/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Shannon navigation is in the care of Waterways Ireland, one of the North-South Implementation Bodies set up under the British-Irish Agreement in 1999.

The practice referred to in the Deputy's question is expressly prohibited under Waterways Ireland's bye laws. Maintenance of good water quality and ensuring that all users of the navigation behave in a responsible manner is of central concern to the organisation. Waterways Ireland informs me that it has in recent years provided, in co-operation with the relevant local authorities, a network of pump-out facilities along the Shannon navigation.

While there are occasional complaints of boaters discharging polluting matter directly into the navigation, there has not to date been sufficient evidence to warrant a prosecution by Waterways Ireland under its own bye laws. At present, one such complaint is being investigated and, when inquiries are complete, a decision will be made on how to proceed.

In this regard, the Deputy may wish to communicate directly with Waterways Ireland on any evidence available to him concerning the case referred to in his question.