Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all of the speakers for coming to the committee. There is big attendance this evening. I counted 11 so we can play soccer if we get bored. Hopefully we will not because this is one of the big burning issues for this committee. It is hugely important and it will probably come as no surprise to know that this committee is absolutely wedded to the retention of the organic nitrogen limit with the 220 kg N/ha derogation for Irish farming. It is critical for rural Ireland and it is critical for farm families. The witnesses' submissions are extensive and very insightful and I commend our guests on all of those.

Mr. Towey is coming to us at an opportune time in relation to the Farming for Water EIP scheme. It is significant with €50 million being provided in an effort to tackle 15,000 farms. Purely from a farming point of view, does Mr. Towey believe this is being spread too thinly? If we really look at it there is probably in the order of 2,000 farms affected by the derogation. From another angle one might say they are the offenders in this. Should we not target in a more measured response where we are going with the Farming for Water scheme and go after where the big flashpoints are?