Mr. Denis Drennan:

Article 12 of the derogation decision is very loose. It refers to average values of nitrate concentrate above 50 mg per litre, which is drinking water quality, or increasing trends of nitrates concentration compared to 2021. They are comparing this year to last year. We have not got the results for last year yet. We have asked how much of a difference would have to be there and they will not give us an accurate figure. They are saying it is generally the trend.

Part B of that is eutrophic. That is a huge issue. We could be cut from 250 kg to 220 kg because a water body or estuary becomes eutrophic or risks becoming eutrophic. Eutrophication refers to algae growth, and that is more linked to phosphorus production. Humans creates as much phosphorus that ends up in wastewater treatment plants as animals do. Our president gave the example in his opening address of Waterford harbour. If the wastewater treatment plant in Waterford city was spewing, if there is no nitrogen or phosphorus recovery in that plant, as it releases the water into Waterford harbour, the phosphorus coming from humans in the city is released into the estuary. That could cause the estuary to become eutrophic, or risk becoming eutrophic, and would have a huge impact on the farmers, as our president has said, in Tipperary, Laois, Carlow, Kilkenny, Kildare and Waterford. It might have no link to agriculture but because it becomes eutrophic-----