Malcolm Noonan, the Minister of State, has criticised Independent TD Mattie McGrath’s scepticism towards science. He urged the TD from Tipperary to retract his detrimental remarks concerning the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), remarks Noonan referred to as an “absolute disgrace”.
The censure from Noonan arrived in response to McGrath’s stinging critique of the EPA, which he branded a “disgraceful, discredited organisation”, further accusing it of propagating “fake news”. This critique was engendered by the EPA’s most recent report law rainwater quality, issued on Wednesday.
The aforementioned report indicated no discernible improvement in the quality of water in Ireland’s rivers, lakes, estuaries, or groundwaters. The primary concern underscored in the report remains nutrient pollution, a consequential agriculture and urban waste water bi-product.
Flawed water bodies included specific areas of River Laune in Kerry, Annagh River segments in Clare, Ahavarraga Stream in Limerick and River Nenagh in Tipperary. Despite these findings, McGrath maintained that the EPA was a discredited organisation as it allegedly refrained from assessing municipal plants as a potential cause of water contamination.
McGrath further asserted that Noonan possessed even greater cognisance of the issue, reiterating, “I have conveyed this to him formerly. The EPA is tarnished, incessantly disseminating fake news, and unfairly branding farmers as culprits.”
However, Minister Noonan strongly countered McGrath’s criticism, denouncing his dismissive attitude towards science as unfit for parliamentary debate. Moreover, Noonan, a Green Party minister, implored McGrath to retract his disparaging comments and labeled his sceptical outlook on science as a growing concern not only in Ireland, but across Europe.
During a private member’s motion by the Regional group of Independents pertaining to the Nature Restoration Law, both the Minister and TD voiced their thoughts. This law, proposed by the European Commission, aims to restore the ecosystems of a minimum of 20% of land and marine areas in the EU by 2030 and all ecosystems by 2050 through the revitalisation of forests, wetlands, and other areas that were affected negatively by human activities.
Denis Naughten, an independent TD who kickstarted the discussion, claimed that this law was fundamentally necessary to combat loss of biodiversity and control climate change. The law encompasses provisions for adaptability and aid for farmers who flood their lands and thereby aid in climate moderation.
However, he expressed his concern about the potential significant effects on farmers, who are vital in preserving our countryside and the economies of our numerous towns and villages due to the enforcement of this law.
“In order to meet these issues, we put forward the making of a nationwide restoration programme that harmonises climate initiatives with the safeguarding of farmers’ income, and would ensure that any measures on farmland are non-mandatory and fashioned to allow farming operations to proceed normally.”
The motion was not resisted by the Government.