asked the Minister for Local Government what are the present regulations restricting the pollution of the River Liffey by various forms of waste and other effluvia; what means are used to ensure that such regulations are obeyed; and whether, in view of the present polluted and unclean state of the river in the city of Dublin, he will take steps to introduce more stringent regulations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pollution of River Liffey.
22.
The discharge of wastes and other pollutants into rivers generally, including the Liffey, is subject to a number of statutory provisions, the principal of which are the Rivers Pollution Prevention Acts, the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Acts and the Fisheries Acts. Responsibility for the enforcement of these provisions rests mainly with sanitary authorities and boards of fishery conservators. It is generally recognised, however, that the existing legal powers of control of water pollution are unsatisfactory. I have had the whole question examined by an InterDepartmental Committee and I expect to receive their report in the near future.