Wildlife Conservation

Wednesday, 4 February 2026

Questions (174)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

174. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason his Department is retaining inland fisheries legislation that protects non-native and invasive freshwater fish in the State such as pike and roach as water bodies, given these species will not meet high EQR status for EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) purposes due to their presence, considering the recent European Court of Justice judgment on 20 November 2025 confirming that Ireland is in breach of its obligations under the EU WFD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7513/26]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment

One of the key environmental objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) is that surface waterbodies achieve ‘good’ ecological status, which is determined using ecological quality ratios (EQR). The presence of pike or roach does not prevent a waterbody from achieving this objective.

The European Court of Justice judgment in relation to the WFD relates primarily to Ireland’s failure to correctly and fully transpose key parts of the Directive. Transposition of the WFD is a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.