Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)

Just to finish farmers off altogether, an entire economy dependent on farmers will suffer — shopkeepers, suppliers etc. Today the IFA pulled out of the partnership talks, but it did not do it lightly. So seriously has the IFA seen this issue that even though it represents 20% of the economy, it has still pulled out of the talks because it is fed up.

This will impact on all farmers across Ireland. There are 50,000 REPS farmers. The impact of cutting fertiliser use by 30% on tillage farmers means a severe reduction in nitrogen fertiliser use in crops and the import is right across the entire block. The nitrates regulation will criminalise the good and decent farmers of Ireland who have been led up the garden path by their advisers to behave in a certain way in the interests of good animal and crop husbandry. As all that has now been taken from them, all the Minister has to offer them is more criminalisation. My message to the Minister is to get sense and bring in common sense regulations that are workable and that will protect our water quality and allow Irish farmers to remain competitive and on the land. She should do that at least.

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