A 10-point action plan to counteract water pollution has been proposed by Mr Eamon Gilmore, Democratic Left spokesman on the environment.
The former Minister of State for the Marine has advocated the introduction in the next Budget of a phosphate tax to discourage the excessive use of fertilisers by farmers.
And he has urged that total responsibility for water quality should be transferred to fishery boards, the functions, staffing and resources of which must be increased, he says.
Remarking on the worst summer in recent years for water pollution and fish kills, Mr Gilmore said there should be one, co-ordinated chain of command for dealing with pollution. At present, responsibility for water pollution, waterways and fresh water quality was spread over fishery boards, local authorities, the Office of Public Works and the Departments of the Marine and the Environment.
New water quality legislation was required and water quality officers should be appointed with the same powers as fire officers, so that they could direct farmers and industries to take action to prevent water pollution, he said.
Businesses failing to comply with directives should be levied. Polluters should be made liable for the full damage caused by water pollution and not just for the clean-up, as at present.
Local authorities should improve their water treatment facilities in relation to sewage discharges.