Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is a very important issue. The nitrates derogation is probably one of the cornerstones of our industry and how it develops. When we started in 2007, we had about 4,000 derogations and we are now up to nearly 7,000, 2,500 of which are in my county of Cork. It is a major issue for the industry. It is very important that we get a positive result on this in the coming months.

I wish to speak about the lack of local authority sewage treatment plants. I often tell a story of something that happened in Cork. We have one of the most beautiful harbours in Cork, but up to eight months ago we were pumping 1 billion gallons of raw sewage into the harbour. Such issues will cause problems with water quality. There have been developments. I welcome the treatment plant that was opened eight months ago.

The agricultural community has invested dramatically since 2008. Farmyards and stores have been built, which are a credit to those in that community. There has been major investment on the agricultural side. We need to ensure that this derogation happens. There has been huge investment in the dairy industry in my part of the world. That is built on the back of derogations. Without those derogations, we could go down the same line of what is happening in other European countries where 20% of herds were lost when they lost their derogations. This is a very important issue and we will hopefully get a resolution in respect of it in the coming months. It is a key issue that needs to be resolved.