Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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On organic farming, Mr. Jack Nolan and others went around the country and had meetings in halls at night and that is how the Department got numbers up. He explained it in bread and butter terms. He is at it himself, which means he was able to go through it. A bit of credit has to be given there. Mr. Callanan spoke about water with Senator Lombard earlier. I read a report again this morning on drinking water. The first thing was most of the water in Ireland is fairly good. Then there was a line that this, that and the other were wrong. Is there an agenda being driven by certain organisations to blame everyone? I believe farmers are not getting a fair crack of the whip in this. Within six months, with a bit of luck, we will have enough evidence of all the sewage that is going into the water around the country that everyone has turned a blind eye to. Farmers are getting the blame for it, especially with phosphorus, because we cannot decide which is which. When you see a river coming down and it is clear, and there is green grass, you know something is shooting into it.

The Department has looked at it, and Mr. Savage would be at it as well. What worried me - and I wish to hear the Department's analysis of it - when the Department of housing appeared before a committee, which was part of the set up, when I asked the lady about the criteria that is being used I was told it was set by Brussels. When I asked whether we would use that same criteria, she said - and I do not want to take her out of context - that we would not be using that type of system but Brussels determined it. Does the Department have any fear that this target is unachievable? This is something I would like to know because I do not understand the targets. The Department is going through all of that. It is nearly trying to make it run and run, and it still will not run fast enough. That is the worry I have. I would like to know the Department's opinion on that in terms of derogation and water quality. Has the Department looked at some of the ways it is used? How will it be set up? Information is being sought from the Department, such as how many cattle are in an area.

The cattle could be within a shed or wherever. God only knows. Brussels wants to know how many cattle are in the area and this is done up on their system. How foolproof is all of that?