Noel O'Donovan (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and thank him for being here to discuss an issue that is really important to me, the Minister and the farmers of west Cork. I refer to the issue of derogation. The Minister will know that, during a discussion on the CAP in this Chamber a number of weeks ago, I discussed the importance of derogation for the farmers of west Cork, many of whom I represent. I congratulate the Minister on the work he is doing to ensure we have a derogation in the years ahead and on the setting up of the Cabinet sub-committee on water quality because that is really important to show Europe the work that we are doing and that farmers are doing to improve water quality. Our party, Fine Gael, is leading on that work. It is important that we support the farming industry. We do not have the power to ensure the derogation will remain but it is important that we stand firm on the side of farmers.

A number of weeks ago, the Department disclosed a new map regarding the reduction of the 250 kg N/ha to 220 kg N/ha. This affects areas of my constituency. The Minister will be familiar with the Timoleague catchment area. This has come as a serious shock to some of the farmers in the area although discussions will have been held in recent years in which this reduction may have been forecast. I recently visited the catchment area and I saw at first hand the work the farmers are doing there. The rivers there are visually pristine. You would have no problem drinking from the rivers there because of the work of the farmers as regards nutrients stored and the time periods in which farmers are actually spreading slurry. The work farmers are doing on the ground is incredible to see. On the reduction from 250 kg N/ha to 220 kg N/ha, which is now to take place at the end of the year, farmers are rightly asking why they are doing this work if they are to see this reduction. There is a contagion effect and fear is spreading among the farmers who are already at the 220 kg N/ha limit. They see the farmers undertaking intensive agriculture at the 250 kg N/ha limit doing the work and water quality in the catchment area improving, as has been shown statistically, and ask if their good work is to no end. That is the fear farmers in my area have. We need to stand firm. I look forward to the Minister providing clarity on why the 250 kg N/ha rate has come about in recent times. I want an assurance from him that he and his Department will do all they can to retain this derogation because it is vitally important for the farmers I represent. I am not a farmer or a scientist but I understand the work the farming community is doing. The statistics are there.

The majority of the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, sampling for testing takes place in the bay in Courtmacsherry. It does not take place on the catchment rivers which are pristine and showing improvements. Farmers fear the EPA testing is picking up residual pollution and residual matter in the water. I do not want to be alarmist but there are man-made issues relating to wastewater facilities that have contributed to the pollution in our rivers, streams and bays. I ask the Minister to comment on that because farmers see the work they are doing, but if EPA testing in our bays and wider estuaries takes in other forms of pollution, that must be acknowledged so the blame is not attached to farmers.

The dairy industry in this country uses a grass-based model, which must be protected. For as long I am in this Chamber, I will speak for the farming industry. We need certainty and assurance because the farmers I meet are looking to the next generation. We have other issues, such as TB and the succession issue, on which the Minister is working. The derogation is important for the farmers I represent. I congratulate Councillor John Michael Foley in Timoleague, who raised the matter at Cork County Council recently. He secured widespread support in the chamber, with the exception of the Social Democrats. We must support our farming industry.