Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have one final question. Everyone is looking at the nitrogen part here. There is huge swathe of our country in trouble with phosphorus apparently. The reality is, I intend to keep following it for as long as I can, that a huge amount of sewage treatment plants are not functioning in this country and it is not the fault of the people living in those towns who do not have the treatment plants they deserve or require. What are the witnesses' thoughts on the phosphorus part, because a lot of farmers do not even understand it. If they do not have a nutrient management plan done, or if soil samples have not been taken, they could be put into the default position. A bag of 18-6-12 or something could put them in bother, especially in some of the schemes. It was said earlier that the water quality is being looked at and the Slaney was named as well as many other places where nitrogen problems would be talked about. Is the same being done on the phosphorus side in other parts of the country?