Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is clear that water quality needs to be maintained and improved upon. Here again farmers have their role to play in relation to this. Like many others, I have spoken to many farmers who have agreed with that. The challenge for us in this House is to put in a workable framework to facilitate them in meeting their part and their responsibilities.

I am going to deal with the nitrates action plan, and there are a couple of issues. In the first instance it is important that we are honest with farmers and that the water quality review on which the derogation depends was hidden from them for months after the plan was approved. This showed a certain level of bad faith. There is also an issue with the review mechanism itself in that comparing two years side by side can provide a wholesome overview of how the situations are changing, especially on a local level when various factors, including inclement weather, can have a dramatic impact. There is also the level of supports available over this CAP period generally. While supports have been maintained in 2023, based on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine's indicative application across 2023 to 2027, this would suggest a reduction in the latter years. We cannot continue to ask farmers to do more while the Government delivers less. This is something that definitely has to be addressed.

I would find it hard, coming from Dundalk, to talk about water quality without dealing with the particular issues that relate to our water supply and the issue of manganese. We have been told it would take a number of years for Uisce Éireann to deal with this particular issue. I call for action to be taken now. I even hear of flushing that is happening in my own area back in Bay Estate and that, again, people are looking at brown water, which we have been dealing with for a considerable amount of time. There is an issue in regard to legacy pipes in old housing estates as well that needs to be dealt with and sometimes serious pressure is put on individuals that have public lines through their land.

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