Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair. I agree with his opening statement. It clearly outlines the current position of Irish dairy farmers and Irish agriculture. I welcome the witnesses.

I think I am correct when I say that the report is not defeatist. It states that Ireland can do more, and the witnesses are open on how progress can be made. Irish farmers have been trying to do their best. There needs to be an understanding about that across the board. They have low-emission slurries. They are working on protected urea, clover and low protein rations. These are all coming in now, and in time will yield progress. I was recently at one farm in Farnanes, County Cork, which I mention quite often. One of the county agricultural groups was at a farm in Barryroe recently, and if the nitrate cuts go ahead, the farmer will go from 80 cows to 53 cows. You may say it is not a culling of cows, but if farming practice is restricted because of what is being pointed out as contaminating the waters, this is where it will end up. These farmers will be wiped out one by one. The man in Farnanes said that no matter what he does, he can do not better than he is doing right now. He is doing it meticulously. The man in Barryroe is doing his work meticulously. They are both doing as well as they can. However, they cannot go from 80 cows to 53, and they cannot go from 79 to 60. It is not going to work. The only winner in this will be the Brazilians. They will grow and grow, and we will wipe ourselves out, bit by bit. I wish I could take the three witnesses for a lovely spin down to west Cork this weekend. I can take them where, as we speak, raw sewage is going from each village into the tide, and into every river and everywhere. I can take them round and show them. I am working on one-----