Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I wish to share my time with Senator Norris.

I welcome the Minister to the House. I also welcome the Government's amendment which notes that 20% of ground water in Ireland has nitrate concentrations above guideline drinking water standards, that 27% of Ireland's rivers are affected by eutrophication and there is widespread bacteriological contamination of ground-water and drinking water supplies by livestock manure. I do not think this aspect has been given sufficient publicity. I do not think enough people know what is happening. I do not think people realise that the Minister is trying to protect all the citizens of Ireland to ensure that they have better drinking water, river water and lake water.

I disagree totally with the Fine Gael motion which panders to the farmers' lobby, just as the Government has been doing——