Latest news with #PatO'Sullivan
Irish Examiner
7 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Statkraft: Delivering strength and resilience, through sustainability
Pat O'Sullivan, Country Sustainability Manager, Statkraft Ireland, outlines the company's commitment to delivering renewable technologies that transform how we power our homes, businesses, and communities Today's world is facing many challenges ranging from the personal and individual, to national and international, across issues including our climate, cost of living and biodiversity crises. At Statkraft we believe that becoming socially, environmentally and economically stronger and more resilient is arguably more important now than it ever has been before, and we believe that sustainability holds the key to delivering this resilience. Sustainability simply means, doing the right thing, in the right way and making decisions that benefit people and the environment around us — both today and tomorrow. We take a balanced, pragmatic approach, ensuring that our actions are grounded, appropriate for the present and guided by delivering positive long-term impact. At Statkraft Ireland, we are capturing our onshore and offshore wind energy resources, our solar resources and also delivering critical services to ensure that we have both energy storage and a stable grid system. Each year we are connecting projects to our electricity grid that put us in a stronger, more resilient and more sustainable energy position. We are committed to delivering renewable technologies that transform how we power our homes, businesses, and communities. In delivering renewable energy onto our electricity system today, we are securing Ireland's energy independence and sustainability. Every project we deliver is taking a step towards that goal. In Ireland, we cannot allow ourselves to be at the mercy of costly foreign energy imports especially when we have all the natural resources required to provide for our energy needs today and into the future. Pat O'Sullivan, Country Sustainability Manager, and Andrea Maestu Gallego, Project Sustainability Manager, with Statkraft. However, fostering strength and resilience is not limited to what we do, it is also embedded within what we do. We work with local communities to deliver resilience guided by local input and feedback. Social, environmental and energy initiatives to name but a few are supported through our local community benefit funds and separately we aim to maximise local economic gain through employment and contracts. Environmentally, we aim to ensure that local resilience is protected and enhanced with a pathway to grow, allowing this to strengthen year on year. Our natural environment and resources are precious to us as Irish people and they need to be safeguarded. At Statkraft, our sustainability strategy revolves around four pillars: The Just Transition (People), Biodiversity, Climate and Circularity. We have a Sustainability Action Plan aimed at delivering on these pillars through a balanced approach which will build capacity through collaboration. Our approach ensures that all risks are managed and opportunities for enhancement identified. 'Ní neart go cur le chéile' — 'There is no strength if we don't pull together' Our journey to realise our full sustainability ambitions will take time, but this journey can be made easier, faster and more effective through collaboration. While individuals can make a difference, dramatic differences can be achieved when we join forces and work together. Our teams have a proven track record of working proactively and constructively in an inclusive way with communities both onshore and offshore. This is not something new — we have worked like this for the past decade. What is new however, is the context of the relationships that we are building with our contractors and broader stakeholders with the common view of maximising the opportunities associated with sustainability. Clonfad Solar Farm in Co Westmeath is a working example of Statkraft's vision, a model of how renewable energy projects can succeed by aligning project management excellence with social responsibility, environmental awareness and sustainability governance and management. Clonfad Solar Farm in Co Westmeath is a working example of our vision. With the capacity to reduce CO2 emissions by c.750,000 tonnes, the project is working with the local environment — not against it — to protect and enhance biodiversity. Low-carbon technology has been employed sensibly during construction, and waste is being managed carefully and intelligently. With over 300 people employed on site, including local men and women, the project is ensuring decent wages and decent working conditions for all. Our four pillars - People, Biodiversity, Climate and Circularity are being delivered on in a balanced and pragmatic way, working collaboratively with all stakeholders. Clonfad has emerged as a model of how renewable energy projects can succeed by aligning project management excellence with social responsibility, environmental awareness and sustainability governance and management. Prioritising issues such as embedding sustainability processes and carrying out sustainability risk assessments may not sound exciting, but ultimately, they are very important and effective. We have a vision and a plan and a team that is already delivering on making a positive impact on people's lives, the environment and the climate. We have depth in our approach and have no interest in tokenistic gestures, superficial PR, greenwashing, or any other form of populism. Statkraft is committed to making a meaningful impact and leaving a real legacy that this generation can be proud of.
Agriland
28-04-2025
- Health
- Agriland
66 pesticide exceedances in public drinking water supplies in 2024
66 pesticide exceedances were detected in public drinking water supplies in Ireland last year, compared to 52 exceedances in 2023, according to Uisce Éireann. In 2024, the national water utility carried out 34,000 analyses of samples from public drinking water supplies. The number of pesticide exceedances in public drinking water supplies in Ireland has decreased significantly since 2017, by more than 50%. While the overall compliance rate remains very high, Uisce Éireann said that all stakeholders must make sustained efforts and be vigilant to protect drinking water quality. The most frequently detected pesticide substance in Ireland's drinking water is MCPA, an active substance in many herbicide products commonly used to control thistle, dock, and rush. Pesticide Currently, several catchment areas are prioritised for action, where Uisce Éireann has detected recurring pesticide exceedances through its monitoring programmes. These include Hacketstown, Co. Carlow, Greenmount, Co. Louth, and Foynes Shannon Estuary, Co Limerick. The National Pesticides and Drinking Water Action Group (NPDWAG) and local catchment-based focus groups, established to coordinate targeted actions at a local level, are prioritising these areas for further work in 2025. Similar targeted action in recent years in areas such as Belturbet, Co. Cavan and Newport, Co. Mayo has successfully eliminated pesticide exceedances in those water supplies. Dr. Pat O'Sullivan, Uisce Éireann's drinking water compliance senior manager, emphasised the need for collective action. 'Last year, we detected pesticide exceedances 66 times in 22 public drinking water supplies. A concerning trend is the number of exceedances outside the spraying season for certain plant protection products, particularly in winter. 'We want to remind users to be mindful of water sources when using pesticides, as one drop of pesticide can be detected in a stream up to 30km away,' he said. The NPDWAG has reminded all users of herbicides and other pesticide products to always take account of the vulnerability of their local drinking water supplies when making decisions about the possible use of pesticides and to be aware of how their actions could impact their community's drinking water. Dr. Aidan Moody, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and chair of NPDWAG, said that an integrated pest management approach must be followed, in which the potential to use alternative control methods is fully considered. 'Users of pesticides must always consider the possibilities for alternative control methods in the first instance. If pesticide application is considered essential, ensure they follow best practices to protect water quality. This approach is a win-win for water quality and biodiversity,' Dr. Moody said. Farmers and other landholders dealing with the challenge of rushes should note and follow the DAFM guidance on the sustainable management of rushes. This approach is based on the concepts of containment or suppression and aims to minimise the use of pesticides. Correct usage If pesticides must be used, Uisce Éireann highlighted the following basic steps to reduce risks to drinking water sources and the aquatic environment: Always read the product label carefully and only use product as directed on the label; Note that a closed spray period, during which product use is not permitted, is specified on the label for some products (e.g., products containing MCPA). Products containing MCPA are not approved for use in weed-wipers; Do not use pesticides if rain is forecast in the next 48 hours; Make sure you are aware of the location of all nearby watercourses, including drains, wells and springs; Comply with either a minimum 3m no-spray buffer zone for any watercourse subject to CAP conditionality, or a larger product-specific aquatic buffer zone specified on a product label if one has been set; Avoid spills, stay well back from open drains, and rinse empty containers three times into the sprayer; Store and dispose of pesticides and their containers properly; Never fill a sprayer directly from a watercourse or carry out mixing, loading, or other handling operations beside a watercourse; Never fill/wash a sprayer on concrete or sealed surface areas where spillage/runoff to drains/watercourses is possible; Never leave a sprayer unattended during filling or mixing/agitating, regardless of location. Uisce Éireann has also launched a pilot study in Cavan's Erne-Larah catchment to encourage farmers to consider the vulnerability of the water supplies to pesticide contamination. This pilot study aims to assist Uisce Éireann with capturing new data and learnings on how different protection measures can improve water quality.
Irish Independent
28-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Public drinking water found to contain chemicals used to kill slugs and weeds
Uisce Éireann said the 66 'exceedances' detected were rare and small and posed no risk to human health. However, the water utility and other agencies who make up the National Pesticides and Drinking Water Action Group said the aim must be to keep pesticides out of waterways and drinking supplies completely. They appealed to farmers, landowners and gardeners to review their pesticide usage and to use alternative pest and weed control methods where possible. 'While the overall compliance rate remains very high, all stakeholders must make sustained efforts and be vigilant to protect drinking water quality,' the group said. The 66 exceedances were detected in 34,000 samples – an increase on the 52 incidents in 2023, although the trend in recent years has been downward. The affected supplies served populations totalling tens of thousands of people. 'A concerning trend is the number of exceedances outside the spraying season for certain plant protection products, particularly in winter,' said Dr Pat O'Sullivan, senior manager with Uisce Éireann. 'We want to remind users to be mindful of water sources when using pesticides, as one drop of pesticide can be detected in a stream up to 30km away.' The 66 detections were in 22 public drinking water supplies, a number of which have had repeated incidents in recent years. The action group has now prioritised several of the affected catchment areas for action. These include Hacketstown, Co Carlow, Greenmount, Co Louth, and Foynes/Shannon Estuary, Co Limerick. Extra attention is also being paid to supplies in Clonroche, Co Wexford, and Lough Forbes, Co Longford. 'Similar targeted action in recent years in areas such as Belturbet, Co Cavan, and Newport, Co Mayo, has successfully eliminated pesticide exceedances in those water supplies,' the group said. The most commonly found substance last year was MCPA, an ingredient in products used to control rushes, thistle and dock. Specific advice is available from the Department of Agriculture on how to minimise pesticide use to manage rushes, which are common on wet soils that drain into waterways. Other exceedances involved 2,4-D, a broad-leaf herbicide; glyphosate, the main ingredient in all-purpose Roundup; clopyralid, also a broad-leaf herbicide; and metaldehyde, used on slugs and snails. Uisce Éireann has begun a pilot project with farmers in Cavan's Erne-Larah catchment area to improve understanding of the impacts of pesticide use on waterways and adopt alternative ways of pest control. As well as affecting water quality and, potentially, human health, the action group is stressing the harm pesticides cause to flowering plants and the bees and other pollinators who depend on them. Department of Agriculture official Dr Aidan Moody who chairs the action group said alternative pest-control methods should always be considered first. 'If pesticide application is considered essential, follow best practices to protect water quality,' he said. 'This approach is a win-win for water quality and biodiversity.'
