There are serious concerns among the farming sector about the looming crisis which could occur if the nitrates derogation is not maintained at the current level. Any reduction of the 250 kg of organic nitrates per hectare rate to 220 kg will have a detrimental impact on the livelihoods of farmers in my constituency in County Mayo and across the country. Any derogation towards 220 kg will require farmers to reduce their stock numbers considerably and will have a knock-on effect on the viability of their farms. It could potentially remove up to €236 million from the rural economy. We as a Government have always encouraged young farmers to take over family farms and make them more productive and invest heavily in their enterprises, especially in rural areas. We are now forcing farmers to look for extra land due to this derogation, which is driving up the price of land. Can we as a Government respond to these concerns around the nitrate derogation to prevent destabilisation of the future of farming, especially in rural areas?

I thank Deputy Dillon for raising what is a really important issue and something I have discussed with farmers throughout the country. Farmers have concerns around the new nitrates rules. These rules are in place to ensure there is an improvement in water quality, which is something all farmers have a commitment to and share that commitment. Understandably, farmers have concerns about their livelihood and are seeking reassurance. I look forward to continuing to work with farmers to ensure we can navigate the new challenges of this nitrates derogation. We are one of very few countries in Europe to have this exemption to be able to farm with higher levels of intensity, which must see a corresponding improvement in our water quality. We look forward to working with farmers to ensure that and navigate a challenging change for them.