Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Many agencies have responsibility for water quality, from the local authorities to the EPA, the fisheries boards and such agencies, and even forestry and Government itself. The thinking from Europe seems to be that farming is creating a big difficulty, we do not need it, and do everything we can to put farms out of business. That is the way farmers think, particularly in my area. I feel this message is coming not from the EPA but from Europe. As was said by previous speakers, we have some fine quality young people who have come into farming. These people are very much environmentally friendly. They are probably more environmentally friendly than the Department itself, yet the rules and regulations that are coming in make it more difficult for them to actually farm. Every time they seem to make improvements and do it in an environmentally friendly way, it is still not enough for Europe or for the Department. We seem to be more severe on farmers than we are on local authorities, on State agencies, on forestry, and everybody else. Will Dr. Cotter comment on that?