Vol. 397 No. 9
121 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Marine the action he has taken to date to advance Ireland's Green Presidency of the EC Council, as promised by the Taoiseach in January 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department is undertaking a comprehensive programme of environmental protection and improvement as part of Ireland's "Green" Presidency. The programme addresses the problems we face on a number of fronts.
A Foreshore Bill is being prepared to prohibit the removal of sand from our beaches and high amenity areas.
The Sea Pollution Bill will end the indiscriminate disposal of ships' waste in the marine environment. Port authorities will be obliged to provide reception facilities for the safe disposal of this waste when ships enter port. The Bill will be circulated to Deputies shortly.
In conjunction with the Wildlife Service, I have also launched an educational programme to highten public awareness about the damaging effects which can be caused to fish stocks and marine wildlife generally by carelessly throwing waste overboard.
All dumping at sea of industrial wastes will be banned from 31 December, 1995. My Department has been in touch with the three Irish-based companies who are authorised to dump at present to effect an urgent phase-out of such dumping.
To ensure that aquaculture does not threaten public health or the aquatic environment, recruitment of additional staff has commenced and a national inspection programme is at an advanced stage.
Fifty-thousand pounds has been provided to help improve the water quality of Lough Sheelin, Derravaragh and River Inny.
My Department has recently published a report on the incidence of fish kills in 1989 to highten public awareness of the problem.
The central and regional fisheries boards will maintain and strengthen their valuable anti-water pollution programmes.
