Results 761-780 of 1,045,820 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Michael Collins OR speaker:Imelda Munster OR speaker:Seán Sherlock OR speaker:Johnny Mythen OR speaker:Paschal Donohoe)

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Johnny Mythen: What are those standards? There must be a figure. I would like to know what it is.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Johnny Mythen: Have any studies been done in Europe, to compare?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Johnny Mythen: Are the standards the same in each country?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Johnny Mythen: Is our standard higher than any other European country?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Johnny Mythen: The figure of 30% non-compliance of farms inspected was given. How many farms were inspected in from 2022 to 2023? What does the 30% refer to?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Johnny Mythen: I presume there are qualified personnel in each local authority.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Johnny Mythen: Have any inspections been done on major reservoirs in terms of nitrates?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Johnny Mythen: The main reservoirs in the country.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Johnny Mythen: Has the EPA set up a specific programme for farmers?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Johnny Mythen: On how to reduce the nitrates, buffer zones and so forth.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Johnny Mythen: Would the EPA recommend Teagasc to set up a programme for it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Johnny Mythen: I thank the witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Johnny Mythen: Which country has the best practice in this regard?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: I thank our guests for being with us today. If there is an infringement on a farm near me and the EPA is made aware of it, what are the laws? Where does the EPA come into play? Does the EPA apply the fine? Does it communicate with the farmer? What happens?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: The EPA identifies the problem in the river, the farmers in the surrounds will be notified of the issue and the local authority will try to identify the farm causing the problem. Is that what Mr. Byrne said?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: I think the witness said earlier that the EPA is the regulator for Uisce Éireann. Is that correct? Yes. What happens if Uisce Éireann breaks the law?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: I appreciate that. I attended a meeting last Thursday night in Shannonvale in Clonakilty. There is a sewage system there that has been leaking for 27 years. A public play park has been closed off and children have not been able to use it for the past 20 years. It could be Irish Water, it could be Uisce Éireann - it could be anyone. It is seeping down into the Argideen river, into...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: I will check that out. The EPA is well aware of this case because it was brought up the last day. People can see, as I have seen myself, that areas have been cordoned off for 27 years and nothing has happened.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: Nobody wants to come back to me.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Michael Collins: I thank Ms Gurrie for her answer but my point is that as soon as there is an infringement, farmers are notified that they must correct it or be fined, and they will most likely be fined anyhow, whether it is corrected or not. It looks as if there is one law for one and another law for the other. How can it be that a plant leaks to the point of closing off a play park, flowing into a river...