Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is not much more I can say. It is clear that we are all on the one side on this issue. It is not a case of us and them. However, there is an element of us and them. Far be it from me to lecture the IFA on public relations; one could learn much more from the IFA in that regard. If a drowsy fish is found in a river in the morning, farmers are blamed. As the Chairman said, that is where many of the good news stories are being lost. We have discussed the non-existent wastewater treatment plants in villages, issues with industry, etc. However, despite all the money that has been spent and all the good work that has been done and the fact that this is a good news story, it will still all be reversed in the blink of an eye when there is a slight problem with a river.

Those of us here and those involved in the farming sector know of all the investment that was made and the levels of water quality that were achieved prior to a small dip. The people outside who will be lobbying to hammer the farmer when this review is going on need to be made of aware of the positive developments in the past.