Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am aware of the situation. The Taoiseach and the Minister for agriculture are meeting the environment Commissioner today in respect of the nitrates directive, with a particular focus on the issue of calving heifers in the very near future and the timelines around that. I visited the Timoleague catchment area some weeks ago. I spent a number of hours there with farmers. I can confirm that many farmers have made huge efforts to modernise and improve their situation. There is a need to get it tighter more nationally between those in and out of derogation as regards protection of waterways and so on, but I am very convinced that farmers want to do the right thing. They have been very progressive in their approach and in the adoption of new technologies. Retaining the 220 kg N/ha is a very important challenge. We are now one of the few countries left in Europe that has an exemption. We are very determined to retain it.

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