Nitrates Usage
Seanad Éireann — 2025-05-01
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Noel O'Donovan (FG), Nominated by the Taoiseach

I thank the Minister of State for his words. I genuinely see and understand his conviction about holding the derogation. For the farm families I represent, this is a business that needs certainty like any other business.
On holding a section at 250 kg N/ha, if we can statistically check the water quality in streams and rivers surrounding an area that is at 250, I believe it would support our argument for holding a 220 or a derogation in general. It is a point to be made to EU officials and it would help if we can show water quality is at a pristine level for a specific area at 250, even with intensive agriculture.
I acknowledge the Minister of State's visit to Timoleague before. There is an invitation for him to visit again and I hope he can do so in the near future. It is to give confidence to farmers in that area and the wider west Cork area. I can give it at my level and I know it is being expressed through all the media but there is nothing like hearing it on the ground. I thank the Minister for his work on this and for being in the Chamber this morning.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2025-05-01/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:53:45+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-05-01