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

In fairness I agree with everything Dr. Byrne said, and specifically that we need an evidence-based approach, but we have 2,000 farms that are probably the worst affected in viability by the nitrates derogation. On the other side one could say they are probably the offenders in this. While we have a €50 million pot I cannot see why we do not directly aid those farmers to get to where we need to get to and ensure they can keep that 220 kg N/ha derogation. Do the witnesses not see there is some logic in concentrating on that? If we spread this across 15,000 farms it is minuscule whereas if we go after the 2,000 farms most specifically affected by water quality it would have the greatest impact.