Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Is the Taoiseach aware of the implications that the reduction in the nitrates derogation to 220 kg of nitrogen per hectare will have on dairy farmers? It will have a significant economic impact and could potentially remove €236 million from the rural economy. It will also threaten food security and increase the cost of food. Farms will become unviable. A farmer who now has 58 cows has been told that when the register comes into place and the derogation is changed, he will have to reduce his stock to 42 cows. His operation will become unviable. Will the Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine deal with this? It is not fair.

It is not right for farmers or for consumers. The Government is hurting both.

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