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

I would probably disagree with the point about education. Farmers know what the issue is and they are trying very hard to address the issue. I appreciate the work that went into getting this EIP and the €50 million. It is the biggest ever but Mr. Towey gave the figures: farming is the most significant pressure on water. It is affecting 1,000 water bodies. We have a €50 million pot. I still cannot see why we are not going after the biggest challenge to water quality coming from agriculture. We all agree it is probably coming directly from dairy farming. It is directly linked to nitrates. Should this €50 million not be focused where the nub of the problem is?