Thomas Gould
Ceist:192. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the role his Department has taken in relation to the fish kill incident in the River Blackwater. [14264/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 24 February 2026
Ceisteanna (192)
Freagraí scríofa
I wish to reiterate that I fully recognise the enormous impact this incident has had on local communities, anglers and users of this important river catchment. From the outset, my officials and I were in regular contact with Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and other agencies. I established and chaired the Inter-Agency Group (IAG) to coordinate the State’s response and investigation, and I visited the site on multiple occasions.
A summary report on the investigation was published on 25 September 2025 by IFI on behalf of the IAG, outlines the extensive work undertaken, including over 40 site inspections, 900-chemical screens, pathology tests and extensive monitoring, sampling and surveys. While no definitive cause was identified, I am satisfied that every possible avenue was fully examined during the investigation.
In October 2025, I requested IFI to lead an independent incident review of the Incident. The report from this review, carried out by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), was published earlier this month and makes practical, forward-looking recommendations aimed at preventing, detecting and improving the coordinated response to future fish kills.
Some of the recommendations are being implemented in the short term, including those aimed at strengthening how State agencies work together. An Inter-Agency Protocol Group has been established by IFI to coordinate this work, which is expected to be completed before the end of Q1 2026. While the operational elements of this protocol have yet to be developed, having a single agreed protocol for all agencies will ensure that the relevant expertise, resources and information are brought together quickly and will ensure consistency in how incidents are handled and communicated in the future.
The report also sets out a range of longer-term recommendations that will require detailed assessments and technical, operational and financial planning. These recommendations, which include strengthening of early-warning and detection monitoring systems and restoration measures to improve catchment resilience, also need to be considered alongside existing arrangements, in particular measures addressing EU obligations such as the Water Framework Directive, the Environmental Liability Directive and the Industrial Emissions Directive, to ensure that actions taken will complement and enhance existing systems rather than duplicate or replace them.
All recommendations set out in the JRC report will be considered. A structured approach to implementation will be developed in due course, to guide how recommendations are prioritised, progressed and funded.