Dr. Marie Archbold:

Yes, but stability is a different thing and we did not even demonstrate stability in all those areas either. A large part of the country would see very quick recovery following implementation but we just did not see that.

On the Barrow, Nore and Suir, the Senator is correct in saying there is a higher level of tillage in those catchments, particularly the Slaney and the Barrow, but going through the EPA catchments of concern document, significant reductions are required in areas that do not have a high amount of tillage. The report considers the Boyne, Liffey, Slaney, Barrow, obviously, Nore, Suir, Blackwater, Lee, Bandon, Deel and Maigue. Across those, even a river like the Blackwater needs a 17% reduction in nitrogen. A large proportion of that would be pasture. It is across the board in those 12 catchments of concern which that EPA document looks at.