Ms Elaine Houlihan:

I thank the Chair and committee for the invitation to address them. Macra na Feirme welcomes the opportunity to present on Ireland’s nitrates action programme from a young farmer perspective. Young farmer participation, along with that of other relevant actors, is key to assuring the successful design of the agri-environment legislation to achieve its goals, including delivering on water quality. We are the generation that will implement measures over the short and long term, giving measures longevity. The importance of the nitrates derogation for young farmers is an issue that needs careful consideration in the context of generational renewal within the farming sector, but also with respect to the development and sustainability of rural Ireland. Young farmers, therefore, need to be given a voice and consulted during the review, development and implementation stages of policy at EU, national and regional levels. It is critical that we continue to review and assess the effectiveness of policy, but also that we recognise the need of policy to provide certainty for farm businesses and that policy recognises the timeframes for water quality measures to deliver improvements in water and ecological quality.

Young farmers are motivated to implement measures related to the improvement of water quality. Given its age profile, this is the generation that can provide a legacy to the behavioural change that is being asked of farmers in terms of changing farming practices to consider water quality and its improvement and protection. However, the investment of young farmers, and all farmers collectively, in water quality improvement and protection needs to be fully acknowledged for the ecosystem service it provides. All of society needs to appreciate and value the ecosystem service component of farming with respect to water quality. To truly acknowledge the added value of farmers’ actions in their farm business, the costs of their actions, which benefit all of society, should be shared with consumers. This would provide a positive outcome for farm incomes and livelihoods, present opportunities for farm diversification, support generational renewal, and ensure water quality and the sustainability of our environment. Young farmers seek an enabling policy framework to ensure not only sustainable water quality, but also a viable agricultural sector for generations to come. To achieve this, it needs to be recognised that water quality goes beyond the sole farm environment and includes neighbouring businesses, industries, communities and local authorities. It must be recognised that for young farmers, improving water quality in line with the EU nitrates directive requires capital investment in areas like slurry storage. This compounds the issues faced by young farmers in accessing finance. While public schemes such as the CAP offer options for support, there can often be critical time lags and such supports commonly remain insufficient to cover investment costs against rising inflation and start-up costs of farm businesses.

There needs to be greater communication and clarity for farmers on the targets of the nitrates directive, and what it aims to achieve. This is not a stand-alone document and the fundamental connections between EU policies on various aspects of water-related issues need greater communication to the farming community. There is also a need for greater communication on how water management policies cross links with nature protection and conservation and the implications at farm scale, especially in terms of nitrates derogation. The role of the nitrates directive, in particular, in supporting the delivery of the water framework directive, which provides an overarching framework for water management, merits greater attention and communication. The complexity and detail of the policy framework highlights the complexity of the issues facing water management and reminds us that farmers are not the sole actors contributing to its impairment. There are other actors and sources of pollution that need equal scrutiny if we are to achieve the targets of water management policy. There must be fairness in the distribution of responsibility for the delivery of water quality, with an understanding that farmers are playing their part and will continue to do so.

Good communication is key to achieving the aims of the nitrates directive. There needs to be improved communication on key water quality targets, so that people can clearly understand and put in place actions to support water quality management in both the short and long terms on their farms. There also needs to be greater coherence about water quality targets and their wording in the legislation, and for this to be communicated to farmers and society.

We can only effect change together. Greater emphasis on supporting awareness of good water quality practices is needed rather than greater emphasis on enforcement which neglects the importance of education and awareness in behavioural change for long-term and sustained water quality improvement and protection.

On the six questions that were given to us in advance of today's meeting, I will hand over to the chair of the Macra na Feirme agricultural affairs committee, Dr. Liam Hanrahan, and our senior policy officer, Dr. Maria Snell, who represent our organisation and members in the agri-water quality working group.