Mr. Denis Drennan:

It looks like we are heading to a catchment-based scenario. We used Waterford Harbour as an example. That is a huge catchment area because the Barrow, Nore and Suir rivers all flow into Waterford Harbour. We cannot get a straight answer regarding all the farmers in those three catchment areas. We cannot get an answer on how big the catchment is. They are looking at coastal waters. The risky bit here is eutrophication, which is down to phosphorous and, as I said, can mainly come from wastewater treatment plants. That is the danger. That part needs to be sorted, as does our end.

The regulation for nitrates is coming this year. There is a possibility that could be increased from a 10% reduction this year to a 15% reduction next year. Even at farm level, however, if we look at the difference for farmers and how they farm, there is monumental change this year. No slurry was spread in the closed period last year. No fertiliser was spread in January and February this year. Nobody went out. The advice and science is coming through the agricultural catchments programme. The advice is coming out and farmers are really embracing it. If farmers wanted to get protected urea this year, it was unavailable at certain times. If they want to buy a low-emissions slurry spreader at present, there is a waiting list of about a year for it. If they want to get a builder to do building, it is impossible at present.

On incorporation of clover into grassland, I looked for clover this year. I could not get it locally and ended up having to get it through a man in Offaly who got it from the North. It could not be got because farmers were embracing the advice and clover seed just was not available.