Dr. Frank O'Mara:

Ms Westbrook and I are on the same page and are both trying to improve nitrogen use efficiency in agriculture. Teagasc is doing so through measures such as trying to get the maximum value out of slurry and using nitrogen fixing clover where appropriate. We have a big research programme into the incorporation of clover in pastures and the judicious use of nitrogen fertilisers. Nobody wants to waste nitrogen fertilisers because they cost a lot of money and can contribute to environmental issues in terms of both water quality and greenhouse gas emissions. We are looking at how we can reduce the inputs of nitrogen fertilisers into our intensive systems. If one took nitrogen fertiliser out of the equation, it would reduce emissions, although possibly not to the same extent in Ireland as in the EU as a whole, but there would be a dramatic impact on the level of production in the country. It would drop by more than the 18% reduction in emissions, which would affect the carbon footprint. However, Ms Westbrook is not suggesting we do all of that.