The matter I wish to raise on the Adjournment concerns the failure of the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to institute a ban on the use of phosphates in detergents in the catchment area of the Shannon region, including Lough Derg. This has occurred despite the fact that prior to the last general election it was stated Fianna Fáil Party policy that this would happen. Instead, there has been obvious foot dragging on the issue. I appeal to the Minister to use his powers under the current statute to sign a ministerial order to ban the use of phosphates in detergents in the Shannon catchment area.
The state of Lough Derg, one of the country's finest lakes, is well known. It has been polluted largely by phosphates, not only in household detergents but also through the use of agricultural fertilisers. It is a matter of considerable public concern that Lough Derg's fishing capacity has been reduced by over 50 per cent in the last decade and it is not recovering as was expected. The level of fishing in the lake is extremely disappointing and the water quality is still seriously affected despite the fact that the Department of the Environment and Local Government is funding a water monitoring programme on the rivers and tributaries feeding into it.
One the one hand the Department is obviously concerned about the state of the water in Lough Derg and surrounding areas but, on the other, it is failing to do something which would have considerable beneficial effects on water quality.
I do not need to explain to the House what phosphates do to a lake. They create a condition known as eutrophication causing massive growth in algae and numerous other plants. This effectively strangles the lake's wildlife, including fish, by reducing the amount of oxygen in the water. Studies done over the last number of years consistently show that over-feeding of the water by phosphates is causing serious water quality problems. The aim of this motion is the banning of phosphates in detergents in the area of the lake. I support the campaign of a fine local group, Save Our Lough Derg and of other environmental groups who are appealing for such a ban. I add my voice to theirs in appealing to the Minister to sign the ministerial order.
We speak on behalf of a large number of consumers who have put pressure on detergent companies to make greener products. For example, on the continent the Persil company sell phosphate-free detergent tablets while the tablets sold in this country contain more than 30 per cent phosphates. This shows that the current voluntary code practised by the Irish Detergent and Allied Products Association is little more than an empty formula. Indeed, my colleague, former Minister for the Environment, Deputy Howlin, stated when he met local groups, including Save Our Lough Derg, in September that he had been mistaken as Minister not to have instituted a ban on the use of phosphates in detergents because he had believed the industry when they told him a voluntary code would be sufficient. It is clear that a voluntary code is not sufficient and that the commitment from the industry simply is not there.
I appeal to the Minister to help us in our struggle to restore Lough Derg to its former glory, to improve the water quality of the lake and in doing so to improve what is not merely a huge environmental resource in north Tipperary and the surrounding counties but a lake which should be a source of national pride and which should be allowed to live again. I look forward to the response of the Minister of State and I hope he will tell me that an order in this regard is about to be signed.
