Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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67. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he agrees with An Taoiseach that tax funds from a company (details supplied) should be spent on attempts to retain the nitrates derogation; what investments, in addition to those already outlined in his Department's official plan to retain the derogation published in August, he believes would be needed to achieve this, including an estimate of the amount of additional tax money from the company that would need to be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38155/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As my colleague, the Minster for Finance has said, this revenue will not impact on the parameters for Budget 2025 which were already set out in the Summer Economic Statement, published by the government in July.

I will not comment further regarding Budget 2025, however when we speak about retaining the nitrates derogation that is about short and longer term actions to improve water quality.

The nitrates derogation supports our agri-food sector that generated €18.3bn in exports last year and it supports our unique grass-based family farming model.

The next Nitrates Action Programme and the government’s application for an extension of the Nitrates Derogation will cover the period 2026-2029. A key element of Ireland’s discussions with the European Commission next year regarding that derogation will be how Ireland is going to continue and build on the current work to reduce the loss of agricultural nutrients to water.

The Taoiseach spoke last week about his ideas for strategic investment in our infrastructure in terms of water, electricity and housing. He also spoke about a sustained multi-annual programme of investment in water quality. I agree with him regarding those core areas and the need to support farmers in the transitions we are asking them to make.

As set out in Water and Agriculture – a collaborative approach , the plan I published in August, the Agriculture Water Quality Working Group will be charged with considering possible measures to reduce the loss of agricultural nutrients to water in preparation for the 2026-2029 Nitrates Action Programme.

In addition as set out in that plan, the Nitrates Expert Group will continue to provide the best scientific advice to support water quality improvements and inform policy in this area.

Their work along with outputs from the Agriculture Water Quality Working Group combined with the Government’s discussions with the European Commission will determine how we can best support farmers to improve water quality and secure our Nitrates Derogation over the period 2026-2029.