Dr. Eimear Cotter:

We start from what is happening in the environment. Looking at the trends for nitrates, 38% of rivers are seeing an increasing trend in nitrate levels and 24% of rivers are seeing an increasing trend in phosphorous levels. That is our starting point. There must be implementation of existing legislation. We know there are compliance issues with the existing GAP regulations. However, given those trends and given the ambition we must build to reverse those trends, we see the full suite of measures in the fifth action plan delivering a greater level of protection for the environment. They will have to be implemented, of course, and fully tracked and monitored to see they are working and having the impact on the environment that is necessary.

On the framing of the argument, it is not meant to be blame. Like everybody else, we can see the importance of the agriculture sector from an economic perspective and socially. It is people's livelihoods. The Deputy talked about farms. We are acutely aware of this. However, changing expectations, including consumer expectations, and the changing environment in terms of tackling greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the environment mean the agriculture sector will have to address the trends we are seeing in the environment, which are currently going in the wrong direction. The expansion of the sector has happened at the expense of the environment in respect of water quality, air quality and greenhouse gas emissions. That commitment from the sector overall, which will benefit the economy and the environment, is something we have to see. It is absolutely imperative we can continue to trade off our green image as an agrifood nation that is very much built upon green credentials.