It calls for greater powers for bodies such as Inland Fisheries Ireland, encourages the Environmental Protection Agency to revoke discharge licences for persistent non-compliance, and that sampling be mandated to happen within 24 hours of any reported fish kill.

In August, tens of thousands of salmon and brown trout died in a stretch of the Blackwater near Mallow leaving local fishermen horrified and answers demanded as to how such an event could occur.

An inter-agency report published in September into the incident could pinpoint no definitive cause. The report outlined that there was no evidence of a chronic water quality issue either before or after the kill.

It also concluded that there was no evidence of a systemic disease in the dead fish, with the likelihood being that a waterborne agent had likely entered the water three days before the kill before dissipating quickly.

The special Oireachtas committee hearing into the incident heard that the response of State bodies to the fish kill has resulted in a lack of evidence, which has made an appropriate prosecution very difficult. 

Killavullen Angling Club chairman, Conor Arnold, told the committee that there “was no procedural advice for river users or indeed the public with regard to health and safety or disinfection protocols from the secondary fungal infection” in the Blackwater as a result of the kill.

“Ultimately, the time lost plus the State bodies’ complete inability to observe international best practices during their investigations has resulted in a lack of evidence which has made an appropriate prosecution very difficult,” he said.

The fallout from the incident has continued with calls to end “light touch” environmental enforcement and criticism of the Government for failing to compensate angling interests or install pollution monitors along the river.

Last week, councillors hit out at the Government's response with Labour'sRonan Sheehan calling for real-time monitors. Local angling clubs are currently fundraising to put their own pollution monitoring equipment into the river.

"I don’t believe the State is really serious about stopping this happening again," Mr Sheehan said.

In its brief report, the Oireachtas Committee said a national rapid response protocol should be urgently established for fish kills, to ensure an immediate and co-ordinated sampling of water, sediment and fish tissue.

“[We recommend] formal multi-agency co-operation be strengthened and formalised, and joint training to improve co-ordination during environmental incidents,” it said. "National standards for fish kill investigations be introduced.

“Penalties for environmental offences be increased, including higher fines and custodial sentences, with provision for cases to be heard in higher courts.

“[And] that a Blackwater River restoration scheme be created to support fish restocking, if appropriate, and give assistance to angling clubs and affected communities.”