An historic Bill aimed at protecting the future of the River Boyne will be debated in the Dáil on Thursday week, according to Labour TD Ged Nash. He said the proposed legislation would not only help secure a bright future for the Boyne but could also serve as a model for managing and protecting waterways across the country.
The Bill was originally conceived by former Meath Labour county councillor Elaine McGinty, who worked closely with Deputy Nash on proposals to establish a task force dedicated to the ongoing management, enhancement and protection of the River Boyne.
The proposed task force would coordinate the work of four local authorities, regulators, Government bodies, Uisce Éireann, local landowners, NGOs and community activists, all working together for the benefit of the river and the wider natural environment.
Explaining the background to the legislation, Deputy Nash said that for more than a year he and Elaine McGinty worked with campaigners from groups such as Save the Boyne and the Boyne River Trust to identify ways to improve water quality and protect biodiversity along the river. He said they listened carefully to those who live, work and depend on the Boyne every day.
He said the deterioration in water quality in the Boyne is clear and noted that the Environmental Protection Agency has stated that water quality in the Boyne and rivers nationally is not good enough. He said urgent action is required.
Deputy Nash said all wastewater treatment plants along the Boyne must be reviewed and upgraded at a minimum, and that lessons must also be learned from the Dawn Meats planning application. He said a new and realistic assessment is needed of what the river can sustain without being damaged. He added that since the Bill passed First Stage, the future of Ireland’s waterways has been further threatened by the extension of the derogation under the EU Nitrates Directive.
He said that for too long communities have turned their backs on the River Boyne, despite it being the lifeblood of Drogheda since the town’s foundation. He said the river has not been treated with the respect it deserves, with pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change the consequences of years of neglect and unclear management.
Deputy Nash said the Bill, if enacted, would provide a single statutory voice for the River Boyne through the establishment of a task force with legal standing. This body would bring together local authorities in the catchment area, experts and local stakeholders to help shape the future of the river from an environmental, social, economic and cultural perspective.
He said he was honoured to build on the work of Elaine McGinty and to bring the Bill to Second Stage in the Dáil this month, adding that he and his Labour colleagues will continue to engage with local groups and activists who care deeply about the future of the river.
Rising in County Kildare, the River Boyne flows through Offaly, Meath and Louth. It is regarded as one of the most historically significant rivers in Ireland, flowing through a landscape shaped by Irish history and prehistory, dating back to the earliest settlers on the island.
