"An opportunity has been missed" - Louth TD 'bewildered' by Government opposition to Boyne River bill

Labour TD for Louth Ged Nash has said government opposition to a bill aimed at protecting the Boyne River left him "bewildered". 

The Boyne Task Force Bill aimed to co-ordinate efforts from four  councils, government, Uisce Eireann as well as local landowners, NGOs and community activists.

Deputy Nash said when he was informed the bill would be opposed by the government he was left "shocked and frankly bewildered". 

“The government claimed that the River Boyne Task Force, which the Bill seeks to established is not needed. It then went on to list dozens of schemes and structures responsible for varying elements of the river’s management." 

“It is ironic that this is the very problem, the Bill seeks to address. None of the structures listed by the government have as their sole priority, the protection and preservation of the Boyne.

Rather than adding a layer of bureaucracy to the management of the river, the new task force would simplify and streamline efforts to protect the river as that would be its singular and only focus,” he said. 

The Louth TD said Labour had worked with "inspirational campaigners" for more than a year to identify how to improve water quality and protect the biodiversity on which the river depends on. 

Deputy Nash said the task force would help determine the future of the river from an environmental, social, economic and cultural perspective.

“Instead, the government has opted for more of the same and will continue to rely on the structures that have consistently failed our great river,” he said. 

Speaking on behalf of the government, Minister of State Kieran O'Donnell said the bill would be "counterproductive to the work already being undertaken or planned for the River Boyne." 

"It would divert existing resources and personnel from addressing other water quality and local government issues in the Boyne catchment and would add an additional layer of administration and bureaucracy for the bodies and agencies that currently operate in the catchment."

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In response, Deputy Nash argued that the bill's measures would introduce greater collaboration and co-ordination. 

He called for "grown-up debates" on Ireland's exemption from the EU nitrates directive which allows Ireland to exceed of livestock manure nitrogen that is applied to land. 

"In the context of the Boyne, agriculture was the top significant pressure impacting on the river, this is directly from the EPA,  at 66% of the 87% at-risk water bodies within the Boyne catchment area and we are extending the nitrates directive again."

"Quite frankly, no one here seems to have the balls, the cojones to understand and accept that. Responsible politicians who show leadership have responsible, mature and informed conversations with the people they represent," he said. 

Deputy Nash concluded, "an opportunity has been missed in this regard, which is unfortunate".