Victor Boyhan praises nitrates directive extension, urges preparedness

Thank you. First I want to welcome the Minister here and I want to welcome your official and indeed to acknowledge the important work that your fellow ministers, ministers for state and your staff in agriculture house have done because I've no doubt there's enormous amount of work into it but it's an amazing achievement for you both as minister it's also an amazing political achievement. There were many critics, I sat and listened to many of them and other people that came to the Joint Oasis Committee on Agriculture, a number of us here are members too. So I think it's not a time for complacency, it's reprieved somewhat to an extent. There is 2028, it's not a long way away so I think that's important and I see that in your measured statement here today I think you've sort of flagged the indication you know we've worked to do, we've to embrace this opportunity and we've to move forward. So look Minister I want to congratulate you and the government on the success on this matter to date. Ireland's success has now secured the extension of the EU Knight Rights Directive and of course this is subject to strict environmental conditions to combat water pollution and rightly so. And I think that's the case. We never denied that there were challenges, we realised there were issues, there were improvements but it is always going to be challenging and I think you've acknowledged that. And there's no point in painting over some of the issues in relation to our water and water pollution. But water pollution comes in many forms and it doesn't only rest with agriculture and I think that's an important thing that came very clear from our debate in relation to these matters. So the key conditions attached to the Irish Knight Rights Directive are worth going over in some level. You know reducing stocking rates, it's important. Reducing fertiliser and increased buffer zones that you mentioned in your statement here today. The manure and nutrient management scheme and enhanced requirements for nutrient management and that goes right across the scheme in terms of better education, knowledge transfer, better practices, you know derogation farms, increasing buffer zones, water courses, all that goes with that. And that's, there's a lot of knowledge in it. Farming is not some sort of hobby for people. Farming is a science now. It's technical. I mean I was down in at the river Slaney coming to Enniscorthy the day before yesterday with the floods and what was interesting coming all the way down was the colour, the brown soil, the water was brown. It was dark. I was then in Bunclody and again you could see literally the leaching and it just struck me they knew at this time of the year it wouldn't have the same challenges. But if there were nutrients, and that was later on in the year, the loss of nutrients and effluent for that matter that comes from heavy drenching of soil. So it's a science and I don't think everyone quite understands that but I think that's important to make. The stricter close-up protocols and the earlier closing dates for the spreading of chemical fertiliser and slurry, that is critical in terms of this management and this derogation and it's an important one. The compliance and the inspections and we can't back off with compliance and we can't back off with inspections and no one's suggesting we do and you're not suggesting it either. So I think it's important that Minister, my understanding is you secured this nitrous directed derogation with conditions. It was hard fought for. It wasn't that by a walk over or roll over. You were to make a science case for it. You were to talk about sustainability. You have to talk about a plan going forward over the next two or three years running into 2028 and you did that and you convinced people and I think that's important. So of course you secured the unanimous vote of the EU member states to extend Ireland's nitrates directive for a further three years. But three years are not a long way away and so I think it's important that we acknowledge that and the key success of that. And it struck me as you were talking at the time and you spoke with us on our committee as well, you talked about key issues like farm certainty and that was really important. The three-year extension provides a vital period of time for intense dairy and livestock farmers preventing cliff edge reduction and allowing stocking rates. But that's a challenge. We're going to have to work on that. You emphasized the scientific validation of the argument which convinced people. You're going over to Europe. We're making a professional case. You got it over the line and I believe the scientific validation was really important and particularly the emphasis on the unique sustainable grass-based outdoor production model that is unique to Ireland. And again you impressed the people on that. I think that was important. The deal of course addresses scientific and environmental, specific environmental conditions including the catchment levels but also acknowledgement of our responsibilities in relation to the habitats directive. And again farmers are responsible. They are the custodians of the land. I know that cliche has been thrown out every day but they are. They have a vested interest. They have a huge interest. It's a livelihood. It's a family. It's an intergenerational asset that they have and they want to secure. And they want a future within it too. So I've talked about the conditions that are there under this extension that will of course be stricter mandate for conditions for farmers in the coming years. And I suppose Minister that's an important point and it's one that we need to prepare for. It's your department need to prepare for. It needs to resource and that's an important point. So the increased compliance. Yes you've said and you're on the record as saying my department will begin intensive in-house catchment based assessments on environmental impacts. And you might just touch off on that as you conclude. You know this agreement is a significant body of work and I genuinely mean it. I want to acknowledge the enormous work. It wasn't easy. It wasn't the fate of complete. It went to the wire. It went to the end. So in your final speech you talk about two points. You say government is providing financial support. Government is providing financial support for farmers going beyond the regulatory requirements to improve water quality. I think that's important. That's an incentive. That will encourage people. I'd like to hear a little bit more about that or how you want a timeline to run in that. And also you talk about it is vital that we now use the next three years wisely to drive the improvements we need to see in our water quality by maintaining a further building of the momentum that now exists across the sector. And securing the derogation has given us an opportunity this and we must embrace the opportunity. I concur 100% Minister. I think we can't take our eye off the ball. Time will run fast. And I think so there's an onus to, you know, further up skilled people, knowledge transfer, keep the focus. And despite what some people say, the EPA is not the boogeyman. They have a job to do. They have statutory functions. They have responsibilities in relation to water quality. And I think that's important that we work with the EPA. Farmers want to work with the EPA. But we grant assist and support. Because if we can address this issue, we are going to protect the future sustainability of rural communities, farmers, farm communities. And that's important. It is about sustainable agriculture. It's about sustainable food production. It's about sustainable income for rural families. And that's important. So I want to salute you, Minister. I want to thank you. And I want to wish you well, which is going to be a long journey to keep this momentum going. Thank you.