Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Taoiseach to the Chamber. On the theme of agriculture, it is important that the nitrates derogation is front and centre in the coming weeks and months. There is an important debate about where we will go with our dairy sector in particular. As an industry, it is worth €17.2 billion to our State, with 59 different milk plants all over Ireland. It is a driver in our rural economy and we must make sure to do our best in the long term to ensure we can keep the derogation to 250 kg N/ha in the entirety of Ireland, which is important. It is important that the EU Commissioner comes to Ireland. The Taoiseach's involvement in recent weeks has been welcomed by farming organisations and by myself. It is important that we get the EU Commissioner onto the island; that is key. We must show him how we produce our milk. The most environmentally friendly milk produced on the globe is produced on this island. The Taoiseach's interaction and engagement on that topic were welcomed by the agricultural community and I thank him for that. I look forward to having the EU Commissioner in Ireland so we can show him what we do well here.