Mr. Bill Callanan:

I do not think it would be fair to say that farmers were not aware when we secured it. It is a four-year derogation and we are in year two. When the derogation was secured, we did a number of webinars, including through the signpost programme, as well as advisory contact. The Irish Farmers' Journaldid an exposé in, I think, June, which was about two months after it. The conditionality was emblazoned on the front of the paper. There was much focus on the requirement to meet water quality improvements at the time of securing the derogation. I think farmers were clear in their understanding of that.

Regarding preparation for the next time, preparing for that is our clear focus.

I draw attention to a number of initiatives. The Minister brought through the Houses of the Oireachtas the fertiliser database regulations. In terms of working with farmers with a focus on how to reduce the usage of chemical fertilisers there has been a 10% cut in fertiliser allowances under the nitrates regulations already. We are engaged with a water quality group to see whether we can build on this momentum with an additional 5%. The recommendations of the expert group will go to the Minister shortly. We will then bring these to the water group and do a public consultation on the next phase of our nitrates action programme. All of this is with the objective of us being in a good place in 2026 for the renegotiation of the derogation. There is a focus on this. The additional actions we are taking with farmers over the current period, which are substantial, as we look to the next review are all designed with the aim of improving water quality to be in a good place for discussions.

To be clear the derogation is dependent on a number of specific conditions. These include a long growing season, high denitrification and high levels of rainfall to displace nitrates. These conditions are consistent but, naturally, they must be accompanied by a positive trend in water quality to assuage any concerns that we are doing harm through being granted a derogation.