Dr. Elaine McGoff:

I can answer the question on false promises because that was in our statement. What I was referring to was the lack of honesty, that it was a case of just put in place all these measures in the nitrates action programme with regard to the derogation for farmers, and as long as they abide by all of the regulations, we will be grand and water quality will improve. However, the science says otherwise. As the Deputy clearly articulated, farmers are under pressure, are worried and do not know how they are going to feed their families, and they are being told that if they just do what it says on the tin, water quality will be okay. I have looked at water quality for 20 years. I do not believe that and I think it is incredibly unfair that farmers are being put in this position and there is a lack of honesty. This is a conversation that needs to happen and the two need to be balanced, but let us start by saying that if we prioritise water quality, this is what it would actually look like, because until we know what we are dealing with, there will be fear and we will go in circles.