Parliamentary Committees Unite To Tackle Water Pollution Threats
Oireachtas committees will jointly scrutinise pollution impacts on sea and inland fisheries during a special meeting tomorrow. The session addresses recent fish mortality events in Irish rivers and potential risks to coastal waters.
Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny On Water Quality And Fisheries
The Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs and the Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy have announced a joint meeting scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, 30 June. The session will convene at 11am in Committee Room 2 of Leinster House to examine the detrimental effects of water quality degradation and pollution on both sea and inland fisheries.
The proceedings are divided into two distinct sessions featuring key stakeholders. The first session from 11:00 to 12:15 will host representatives from the Irish Environmental Network, the Sustainable Water Network, and the Angling Council of Ireland. Following a short break, the second session from 12:20 to 13:30 will bring together officials from Inland Fisheries Ireland, the Marine Institute, the Environmental Protection Agency, the River Basin Management Service, and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority.
Deputy Conor McGuinness, Cathaoirleach of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, highlighted the necessity of this collaborative approach. He noted that while sea fisheries fall under the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, inland fisheries are overseen by the Department of Climate, Environment and Energy. The committee raised significant concerns regarding pollution events originating in inland waterways that could spread to bay areas.
Recent data underscores the urgency of the issue, with thousands of fish dying in the River Blackwater in August 2025 and further mortality recorded in the River Glyde within the past month. Deputy McGuinness explained that in coastal settings, pollution enters via rivers, waste treatment overflows, and atmospheric carbon dioxide, threatening fish stocks and posing public health risks if contaminated seafood reaches consumers.
Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí, Cathaoirleach of the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy, added that this meeting will allow for a deeper examination of water quality issues extensively reviewed throughout the year. The committee has previously published detailed reports on Lady’s Island Lake and the Blackwater, offering recommendations to alleviate environmental pressures on Irish waterways.
The meeting can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV or via the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App for Apple and Android devices. The Joint Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs comprises 14 Members, with nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad, mirroring the composition of its counterpart committee.