Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In June the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) published its Water Quality in 2022 Indicator’s Report. That report sets out that, and I quote, “there has been no significant change in the biological quality of our rivers or lakes in 2022.” However, the EPA’s data also shows that the nutrient concentrations in many of our waterbodies remain too high.

As a State, we all have to work together to reduce the levels of nutrients in our water. This responsibility extends to farmers, but it also extends to private dwellings on septic tanks as well as Uisce Eireann who are also investing to improve water quality.

I fully accept agriculture is the largest pressure on water quality, however this is directly related to the fact that agriculture is the dominant land use in this country and accounts for approximately two thirds of the land within the State.

Ireland does not have an industrial agricultural model. Ireland has a family farm model with modest farm sizes compared to many of our global competitors.

Farmers have made very significant efforts to address water quality in recent years, however these changes will take time before their full impact on water quality becomes evident.

From an Irish perspective, we need to work to improve this situation from an environmental perspective, but also to ensure the long-term sustainability of our agri-food sector.

In May, I established the Agriculture Water Quality Working Group involving all the key stakeholders across the agri-food sector. It has three broad objectives:

1. To improve awareness of the impact individual actions can have on water quality;

2. To improve compliance with existing rules; and,

3. To consider what new measures should be introduced to drive improvements in water quality.

The Group has met three times to date. It will continue to meet regularly over the coming months as work on the Interim Review of Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme progresses and as we prepare for the next Nitrates Action Programme, commencing 2026.

To achieve environmental progress we must bring people on the journey with us.

I remain fully committed to working with farmers to improve our water quality so we can maintain the maximum stocking rate possible.