Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is like Groundhog Day. That is how I would describe it, as we have been through all these issues previously.

It is great the witnesses are here. Their presentations were informative. I acknowledge the Chair's contribution to the debate. He has been active in making sure we got to have this forum, which is important for many of us.

I will start with the IFA. We need to have a debate about the whole issue of whether the derogation is fit for purpose. Let us take the information about how the catchment in Timoleague has worked in the past 14 years, including how it has shown that good farming practices, such as increasing stocking rate has not led to any major changes in the water quality in that area. Will Mr. Murphy share his knowledge and understanding of why it worked in Timoleague and talk about the testing regimes, everything that has been in place, the soil type and other environmental factors? If we suggest that the core basic tool of a stocking rate will solve everything and then we look at a place like Timoleague versus a place like Leitrim where there is only one derogation farmer, how can the issue of whether the stocking rate will solve the issue of derogation be logically argued?