Laois councillor says "gobshite" is applying EU law

A LAOIS councillor has declared that a “gobshite” must be applying European Union (EU) directives on river maintenance in Ireland.

Cllr Aisling Moran made the remark as she claimed that, unlike Ireland, all other EU nations regularly clean their rivers although they are governed by the same directives.

“What gobshite is reading the law in Ireland?” she demanded at a council meeting. “They are following the same laws in the rest of the EU as we are, but they are cleaning the rivers and we are not.” 

Her comments came this week at the September meeting of Graiguecullen-Portarlington municipal district, after Cllr Aidan Mullins sought an update on progress on the maintenance of a section of riverbank that has collapsed at Baylough Bridge, near Portarlington.

Cllr Mullins pointed out that a local farmer is unable to access some of his land, as the section where the riverbank collapsed is the only access route to about two fields.

Senior engineer Tom Drennan replied that the county council recently engaged with an ecological consultant to carry out a screening survey of the riverbank works, “to ascertain if remediation works require a full Natura Impact Statement (NIS) before the works can proceed”.

He said the council also engaged with a specialist river works contractor and is waiting for a quotation regarding the proposed remedial works on the collapsed embankment.

Mr Drennan said: “All works are subject to compliance with Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) stipulations on in-stream river works, as the closed season runs from 1 October to 30 June.” 

 Frustrated with the response, Cllr Mullins recalled that he received a similar reply two years ago from a previous senior engineer.

Cllr Mullins said: “I know you are taking up the mantle on it now, Tom, but we seem to be back where we were two years ago. I think there is a little bit of foot dragging here and this man can’t access his land.” 

The engineer said that a number of criteria had to be met in relation to the way works were carried out and the council had to make sure they complied with IFI stipulations, although it was possible there could be a derogation.

Mr Drennan added: “We need to build up the embankment safely, so that the landowner can access it.” 

Cllr Moran remarked that all these types of works were “being stopped by reports”, noting that a section of embankment was left in the river and it must be removed.

Cllr Mullins recalled that Cllr Moran’s late father, former councillor John Moran, regularly only half-joked about “snails and rare weeds” holding up river and road projects all over the county.

Before letting loose with her “gobshite” comment, Cllr Moran agreed with Cllr Mullins and said: “And people’s livelihoods are at stake.”