RIVER MANAGEMENT:HUNDREDS OF IFA members called on the Government to establish a single agency to manage Ireland's waterways, including the Shannon, following the serious flooding of recent months.
At his first official event in his capacity as president of the IFA, John Bryan told a meeting in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, that successive governments had failed rural dwellers living near Ireland’s main river systems.
Calling for a single agency to oversee the maintenance of waterways, Mr Bryan said: “The plethora of agencies involved in river and waterway policy – OPW, ESB, Waterways Ireland, fisheries boards, local authorities, National Parks and Wildlife – has contributed to the flooding problems that caused such devastation last November and December.”
He welcomed the announcement by the Minister of State at the OPW, Martin Mansergh, that legislation would soon be introduced giving the OPW a role as lead agency.
Michael Silke, who is to head a new IFA team set up to deal with the flooding, expressed his disappointment with the Government’s handling of the floods.
He questioned the interests of bodies such as the ESB and Waterways Ireland.
He asked what the National Parks and Wildlife Services and fisheries board had done as local authorities “used our rivers and lakes as a dumping ground for raw sewage over the years”.
Tom Browne of the ESB outlined the operation of the generating station at Ardnacrusha. He reminded the gathering that the events of November were unprecedented.
Mr Mansergh spoke of the surveys and reports conducted by the OPW. “I think we are going to have to look at all previous reports and recommendations in light of the events of the last couple of months.” He spoke of a number of options being investigated at locations around the country.
Many at the event criticised the speakers for not taking responsibility. There was also criticism of environmental groups, and calls for people to be prioritised over animals and wildlife.
Some of the speakers had yet to return to their homes since the flooding.