Cathal Byrne (Fine Gael)

I join the Cathaoirleach in welcoming our guests to the Seanad. I hope they have a very enjoyable day and that Senator Scahill looks after them very well, as I have no doubt he will.

After last night's meeting of over 2,000 farmers, I will speak about the risk the loss of the nitrates derogation presents to our farming community. We have around 7,000 farmers who avail of the derogation, which allows, on average, for 2.5 cows per hectare. The loss of the derogation would limit the number of cows on each individual farm to 1.6 per hectare. When we consider that at present the average dairy farm consists of 92 cows being milked, this would cause massive, irreparable damage to the agricultural sector and rural Ireland. Our guests today are from rural Ireland and they will appreciate the importance of this. It is important that a clear message goes out from that meeting last night. I have no doubt the Minister for agriculture, Deputy Martin Heydon, will stress on Friday, when he meets the European Commissioner for the environment, that Ireland's case is unique. We are the only country in the European Union which is in a position to grow grass all year around and to have our livestock out in the open. That allows us a unique opportunity to run a type of farming different from what can be done on the Continent and across the rest of the EU.As a direct result of farmers engaging to well and working so hard over the past couple of years to improve water quality, the derogation should remain in place. I support the efforts of the Minister for agriculture. I encourage the Leader to ensure that this Chamber would have an opportunity to debate these issues after the visit of the European Commissioner to Ireland.