Mr. Ted Massey:

To build on that reply, the data published last week by the EPA shows a 16% increase in nitrate concentration in those rivers involved in its monitoring compared to 2024. In 2024, however, it was down 10% on what was a much higher level in 2023. As Mr. Callanan has said, it is very important not to become fixated on short periods of time when we are talking about water because we know nitrate levels will fluctuate. The Minister, Deputy Heydon, has been very measured in his response to the EPA data for 2024 because we knew weather and other factors could lead to data going the other way but it is important to look at the long term trend, as Mr. Callanan has said. If one looks at the EPA reports of recent years on nitrate concentration, they confirm there is a declining number of rivers with elevated nitrate levels overall. While our data for the first six months of this year is obviously a concern, we have to look at the longer term data because that is what will count.