Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yes, multiple issues impact water quality, and certainly wastewater from towns, villages and sewage are a key part of that, mainly contributing to the phosphorus side. The biggest challenge from the nitrates side comes from agriculture. That will be recognised by all. While we have to address the phosphorus side and the sewage side, which is a real problem, we also have to address the nitrates side in terms of agriculture.

To be clear, it is not about saying the Minister needs to thump the table with the Commission or take a hard line, and if the Minister would just do that, then we would keep our derogation. This is not something that is within our gift. We have to go out there and we are, and we will seek to get this. However, it is wrong for anyone to be complacent or believe it is simply about the Government banging the table enough in order that we will continue to get it. The reality is we have a challenge in that we have not delivered over the past ten years in relation to improving water quality or in relation to meeting the targets under the nitrates directive. That has put us in a challenging situation at the moment. We now have to work together to make sure we reverse those trends. We will work together to make sure of that. The reality is that if we do not, then come 2024 and 2025, securing the derogation again will become a big challenge.

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