Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the representatives. There are many recurring themes in their submissions and those of previous representatives. Therefore, there is commonality. Of course, there would be and that is understandable.

Water quality is a national issue. It is the responsibility of all stakeholders and users of water to maintain it and empower all involved. That is a crystal-clear message we need to get out. We are not seeking to make a case that farmers are dragging their heels. I am satisfied that they are pulling their weight.

I want to address Mr. Carr of ICOS first. I acknowledge the great success of his organisation. I remind people at this meeting that ICOS is a body that nominates to the Seanad agricultural panel. I encourage it to use that panel. It is a nominating body and it has people through a process. It is important that it put the lever on everybody because that is what it is about. ICOS is representing members and it uses its nominating process well. Some of the nominees are sitting in the Seanad. That is an important point for ICOS members. I acknowledge that ICOS plays a full part and I am very familiar with its operations and work. Mr. Carr was right about how small co-operatives grew, expanded and became very successful; well done. I also acknowledge that ICOS heavily resources sustainability measures through various programmes. That is very much part of its message, as Mr. Farrell said.

ICOS has called in its submission for the Government to establish an interdepartmental task force, chaired by the Taoiseach, that would properly assess the economic and social implications of further reductions to the nitrates derogation. I fully support that. I believe ICOS is right about this. When I read representatives’ papers, I go straight to what their organisations are asking for. ICOS is calling for a task force that should include the Departments of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Rural and Community Development. That all makes sense. Mr. Carr might share briefly with me how the campaign in this regard is going. What is ICOS doing and how does it envisage the campaign progressing? I fully endorse and support it.

ICOS is very concerned about the reduction of the derogation. Its statement refers to the ramifications for the viability of rural-based businesses such as the co-operative agri-retail stores. We talk here about balanced regional development and sustainable rural communities. These all overlap, and rightly so. Mr. Carr might touch on these two issues before I ask questions to the representatives of the other two groups.