The recent interview with the Minister for agriculture demonstrated everything that is wrong with the Government's approach to agriculture and climate change. When he was asked about the nitrates derogation, the Minister was clear. He said he was not even contemplating a scenario in which Ireland loses its derogation. How can a Minister proudly declare he is not going to plan for what is a very likely outcome? We all know that agricultural run-off is primarily responsible for damaging water quality and biodiversity. It is a reality the Government needs to face up to. We have more evidence today from another EPA report that found water quality remains in crisis. It found that there has been no overall improvement in water quality despite efforts having been made, and time is running out to fix this. The Taoiseach knows the derogation cannot last, so why is his Government pretending otherwise? Denying reality and leading farmers to a cliff edge again will only devastate more family farms.

I thank the Deputy.

When is the Government going to do its job and how will it support derogation farmers to change their ways?

I do not agree at all with the Deputy in relation to saying we know the derogation is not going to continue. It is absolutely Ireland's position at a European level to continue to seek to maintain this derogation, and this is the position I, as Taoiseach, will take at the European Council when these issues arise. I am concerned that this is not a position the Deputy would take if she were in government, because I fully agree that we do need to improve water quality. I share the concerns expressed by the EPA that there is no indication yet of an overall net improvement in water quality. We do, though, have a particular and unique grass-based system here. In Ireland, our climate and our soils do justify the derogation and I do not think we should suggest it is a matter of improved water quality or of keeping the derogation. We need to improve water quality while maintaining the derogation. This is what the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, is going to lead the Government's efforts on, namely, bringing together a task force composed of representatives from the industry, farmers, Departments and others. As one example, we have seen the use of chemical fertiliser decline by around 30% in two years. We do have a lot to do on water quality, but I do believe it is possible to improve water quality and to maintain the derogation.