Results 761-780 of 1,038,769 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Máiría Cahill OR speaker:Catherine Byrne OR speaker:Simon Harris OR speaker:Catherine Byrne3 OR speaker:Catherine Byrne9)

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)

Joe Flaherty: I will do the good bits first. Without being patronising, as a committee we are predominantly a male bastion so it is fantastic to see that 75% of the speakers are female and from a science background. As the Government is constantly trying to encourage more young people and especially women into science, today is a heartening day. That is part of the good news. The other good news is...

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

Joe Flaherty: There is a tradition in the Civil Service not to do something this year that was not done last year. However, we are at a particularly challenging point for agriculture in Ireland. Is there capacity in the EPA to look at doing a January to June 2024 report on water quality to be published in December 2024?

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

Joe Flaherty: I appreciate that it would be a snapshot, but it would give us an insight into whether we are getting improvements. At the moment, we are taking a leap of faith as we will not see the improvements in the reduction of nitrogen use for six to 12 months. At least, if we could see an indicative report in December this year for January to June 2024, we would know we are on the right track and it...

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

Joe Flaherty: Exactly.

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

Joe Flaherty: The EPA could send us a draft report.

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

Joe Flaherty: The water quality report is very good, but there is never specific mention in it of wastewater. Agriculture is mentioned many times and I appreciate that we are the primary source of nitrates in water, but the next one is wastewater. Can the EPA give us an indication of whether there have been improvements and what it is doing in enforcement? If there is a rogue in the room, there is a...

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

Joe Flaherty: My next question is about enforcement and is directed at Mr. Byrne. There has been no significant change in the biological quality of rivers or waters. There have been some improvements but these have been offset by the declines in other areas. If I was looking after enforcement, I would do it strategically on key areas. Can Mr. Byrne set out a map in terms of enforcement? Is the EPA...

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

Joe Flaherty: Are all those 57 positions filled?