Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is welcome. I acknowledge the work that has been done by the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. My colleague, Senator Lombard, cannot be here and has asked me to cover this Bill. I was first contacted about it almost two years ago by individuals at home who had concerns that - I will not say the Minister - the Department was trying to monopolise the market for vets and that it would put jobs at risk. I am not sure whether that was ever the intention or the case, but certainly, concern was expressed to me about the perception that might have been in the industry. The changes arising from discussions on Committee Stage and whatever involvement the Minister has had, have ensured a much more favourable and appropriate Bill as regards balancing the needs of farmers, retailers and, most importantly, ensuring human health and animal health in the prescribing of antiparasitic and antibiotic medicines. Antimicrobial resistance is hugely important in animal and human health and it is an issue that should be regulated to ensure we limit its level. The Bill can assist in ensuring there is a better understanding by Irish farmers and better engagement to ensure AMR is reduced.

The use of prescribed persons was regulated before this and they can continue to assist as individuals working in the industry are highly qualified. There was concern that removing them from being able to be involved in this would in some way question their competence and what they have done in the past and that would be regrettable. I, therefore, welcome the changes that have been made. We all know the importance of medicines. As someone who has been involved in farming all my life, medicines should be used sparingly but when necessary. No farmer wants to see an animal suffering.

The use of vets is important. However, as others have said, access is difficult in some parts of the country in certain large practices, though my late uncle or I have never had an issue in accessing vets and high-quality care. However, it is important that we ensure we also have an adequate number of vets. I welcome recent discussions about a new veterinary college to ensure the supply of vets to carry out the important work they do. The vast majority of farmers comply with, and abide by, rules and regulations. There are always individuals who will try not to. That is not to be commended but it happens in a small number of cases. That is why regulations in all aspects of life are required.

The second issue is the fertiliser register.Again, as a former REPS planner, I know of the importance of accurate receipts and everything else that goes with sale and distribution of fertilisers. I believe we have seen a natural decrease over recent years in agricultural sales and purchases because of regulations but also because of the cost of them. There is a reduced need for fertiliser with the better education and training of people, the better use of clover and rotation grazing, and everything else that goes with that. Many young farmers are now more educated, with the Teagasc green certs and so forth. Practices are improving, which is certainly to be welcomed.

There is still a large amount of fertiliser being purchased and there are parts of our country which, unfortunately, have seen water quality continuing to be impacted because of agricultural and, indeed, other practices. It is certainly not just agriculture and there is certainly a great deal less of this now. I certainly know that in the 1980s many more fish kills would have been commented on on the RTÉ news, whether they were caused by silage effluent or the likes of that. That has been tidied up in the main. Some accidents may happen, unfortunately, and they are completely regrettable, but a very significant investment has been made by Government and farmers to ensure these issues are not as prevalent as they were in respect of the levels of slurry storage and silage effluent. Certainly, fertiliser has had and can still have an impact in respect of diffuse pollution. Proper and adequate records are important in respect of all the various biodiversity and all the other agricultural schemes. They are also important in respect of data collection where we can adequately state what the position is lest there be any doubting Thomases with regard to the use of fertilisers, the role farmers play, and the contribution they make towards reducing the use of nitrogen and nitrogenous fertilisers and, consequently, the impact on climate, together with the legislative requirements on agriculture in the role it needs to play with regard to climate change, which I welcome.

The third issue I want to raise is the renewed focus by the European Commission on reinvigorating the whole issue of Mercorsur. We obviously know the importance of trade deals and the need for the European Union to lessen the reliance on China and, perhaps, other countries. While we in this Chamber are debating the issues of animal welfare and quality, and rightly so, and we know of the importance and quality of Irish meat, it would be retrograde in the balancing of that were we to see deals being agreed for beef imports coming in from Brazil and elsewhere where the environmental record of afforestation or deforestation is so evident and so disagreeable to the majority of people in the European Union. This is something I see the European Union commenting on again in recent days and something that is likely to continue to be of concern, notwithstanding the importance of trade deals with areas outside of the European Union.

I compliment the Minister on his engagement with this legislation and wish the Bill's passage through the House the very best.