Is the Taoiseach aware of the implications that the reduction in the nitrates derogation to 220 kg of nitrogen per hectare will have on dairy farmers? It will have a significant economic impact and could potentially remove €236 million from the rural economy. It will also threaten food security and increase the cost of food. Farms will become unviable. A farmer who now has 58 cows has been told that when the register comes into place and the derogation is changed, he will have to reduce his stock to 42 cows. His operation will become unviable. Will the Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine deal with this? It is not fair.

It is not right for farmers or for consumers. The Government is hurting both.

I thank Deputy Healy-Rae. This issue concerns many farmers. The nitrates derogation is not something that we are guaranteed. We have to apply for it at European level. The standard stocking rate across Europe, which is a common market area, is 170 kg of organic nitrogen per hectare per annum. A state can apply for a derogation, which other member states have to vote to give. If a state gets that derogation, it means that it can stock at a rate of 250 kg of organic nitrogen per year. We received the derogation up to 2025. There is a mid-term review later this year. If water quality is not improving as part of that mid-term review, then under the derogation we have, that could drop to 220 kg. That is a challenge we have. If it drops to 220 kg, there is no doubt it would have a significant impact on some farmers.

I thank the Minister.

The challenge with the derogation is that we are not guaranteed it. We have to work for it and secure it from other member states. I am conscious of it and will engage on it further, along with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and his team, and the European Commission.