Dr. Elaine McGoff:

Nitrates pollution is the one that is really worrying at the moment because it is ramping up. When I started looking at water quality 20 years ago, phosphate pollution was the problem. The answer is neither because they are both a problem but when it comes to nitrate it is disimproving quite dramatically year on year. The EPA is normally quite measured, but it is coming out with statements saying that there have been alarming declines in the water quality in estuaries. Phosphates are still a problem but nitrate is more pressing.

With regard to providing the basis on which measures will work, I say this because Teagasc kept showing that a drop from 250 to 220 kg N/ha per year will only lead to a saving of some 4 kg of nitrogen per hectare. If they can do that modelling then why can they not do the modelling to show us how much we would have to drop. The EPA has told us how much nitrogen we need to reduce in those ten catchments of concern. Can Teagasc not model that? Why not? The answer would be scary for certain farmers in certain catchments but at least let us have that honesty and that discussion.