Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)

I thank the witnesses for their presentations. Obviously, while there have been some improvements in emissions reductions we are still nowhere near where we need to be. I believe much of those emissions reductions, particularly when talking about fertiliser reductions, were really as a result of the incredibly high prices we saw in the market. That obviously influenced people's ability to purchase fertiliser.

My first question is for the Department. While this is an issue that is not usually spoken about in terms of emissions but of water quality, has it done any emissions analysis of the impact of the nitrates derogation? It is usually discussed as a water quality issue, but I think that is a flaw in our system and how we discuss these things. Obviously, there are multiple issues at play here. I would like an answer on that if possible.

Teagasc spelt out a number of measures, which if implemented under the MACC, would bring us up to the full emissions requirement. The witnesses mentioned the age of finishing of cattle from 26 to 21.6 months but we saw a rise in that in 2024. Will they tell me why that increase happened and how that reduction can be encouraged or facilitated, because that is a key issue for them? As part of that MACC did Teagasc consider a reduction in the herd as a potential policy measure that could be used? I know that at one stage the Department of agriculture was looking at that, but did Teagasc consider that as part of the MACC process?