Environment not priority

Bad and all as it was not to appoint a (dedicated) minister for the environment at the outset of the minority government it now flies in the face of all the national, and International environmental legislation that not even a junior ministry of the environment is appointed this time round despite an increase of junior ministries.

In the previous government Arts and Heritage Minister Heather Humphries sabotaged the Wildlife Act to facilitate hedgerow modification of the rural countryside.

Already criticism has been leveled at Enda Kenny (him, part of political class) that they have no understanding of the arts but perhaps what is even worse is that the political class have no value or understanding of the terrestrial and aquatic ecology, both sub-parts of the general environment.

Therein lies the root problem of our woes with Irish Water and further deteriorating water quality into the future.

To be more honest about it, this may pointingly reflect the true state of mind of the general population and its regard for the protective legislation such as the Water Framework Directive and the Habitats Directive, in that not one of the “parish pumps” Independent TDs appointed to cabinet could right this wrong.

From that, the only implication that can be drawn is that of a downward trend in the integrity of policy for all encompassing sectors of the environment, including our natural and built heritage and its subsequent destruction with which this ‘a new dawn’ Government and the opposition will be held responsible by the younger generations in time to come.

Ian Hester for and on behalf of Uisce Domhan Water World Europe ltd

Carrowduff

Fourmilehouse

Co Roscommon