Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I thank the Cathaoirleach for setting out the details. As he confirmed for us before, he is in derogation. He is a farmer and knows the experiences, which he has outlined very well. I thank him for setting the scene for something he knows very well personally. It makes it more real because we have to talk about the lived experience.

I thank the Minister and his officials for attending. While this is a very heated debate, I want to put on record my thanks to the Minister. As the Cathaoirleach has said, the Minister has emphasised today the importance of a strong, practical, pragmatic working relationship with this committee. He has always done that and has always been available. More important, his officials have been available in the background. We do not need to see the Minister every day but I know that if we pick up a phone and ring the Department, we can get a response. That is important. We have a very informed response. It is important that we do not lose sight of the importance of a very good working relationship. We do not always like the outcomes, but let us not make it personal. It is important that we continue to have dialogue. That has always been my experience on this committee.

I welcome the IFA. It is a new bunch of IFA people who I have not often seen before the committees. They know the situation on the ground and the experience. It is clear farmers are exceptionally vexed by the decision to cut Ireland’s nitrates derogation limits from 250 kg of organic nitrogen per hectare to 220 kg. Let us be clear about the number of farmers in derogation versus the number of farmers in the country. We have to set the scale and context to the public listening in.

I acknowledge Agriland and other agri-journalists here today. They play an important role and function in communicating the messages of agriculture, agri-politics and the issues that are discussed in this committee. They are invaluable to the committee, the Oireachtas and farm organisations in getting crystal clear, factual messages out there.

Last Monday on RTÉ television we saw the Minister and the Tánaiste in Horse and Jockey, County Tipperary, in the constituency of the Cathaoirleach.