Paul Murphy: Urges end to nitrates derogation, reduce dairy herds
Paul Murphy spoke during leaders' questions, quoting Cairn Corle from COP and pressing the government on agricultural pollution and climate honesty. He accused large dairy farmers and processors of driving carbon emissions and polluting waterways, and demanded the nitrates derogation be ended alongside a compensated herd reduction scheme.
He quoted Cairn Corle saying the science is undeniable. Temperatures are rising and the clock is ticking, and he warned that failing to tell citizens the truth about the climate is a profound failure.
He raised local water pollution concerns, referencing Loch Nha and saying Loch Derg is the latest lake to turn neon green, a 41st shade of green. He identified nutrient pollution from agriculture as the main cause, accelerated by the nitrates derogation.
Murphy challenged the government to confront big dairy farmers and processors, arguing that environmental protection and intensive for-profit animal agriculture are incompatible. He called for a reduction in dairy cattle numbers, compensation for farmers via a herd reduction scheme, and the removal of the nitrates derogation.
He addressed the Taoiseach directly and concluded his intervention; the leaders' questions were closed and he said he would return to the matter on another day. The chair then announced two further items before proceeding.
COP quote on climate urgency
He quoted Cairn Corle saying the science is undeniable. Temperatures are rising and the clock is ticking, and he warned that failing to tell citizens the truth about the climate is a profound failure.
Water pollution and Loch Derg
He raised local water pollution concerns, referencing Loch Nha and saying Loch Derg is the latest lake to turn neon green, a 41st shade of green. He identified nutrient pollution from agriculture as the main cause, accelerated by the nitrates derogation.
Dairy industry and environmental incompatibility
Murphy challenged the government to confront big dairy farmers and processors, arguing that environmental protection and intensive for-profit animal agriculture are incompatible. He called for a reduction in dairy cattle numbers, compensation for farmers via a herd reduction scheme, and the removal of the nitrates derogation.
Parliamentary exchange and next steps
He addressed the Taoiseach directly and concluded his intervention; the leaders' questions were closed and he said he would return to the matter on another day. The chair then announced two further items before proceeding.
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Transcript
Thanks, Cairn Corle. I want to quote you from COP. You told an international audience that the science is undeniable. Temperatures are rising and the clock is ticking. If we are not prepared to tell our citizens the truth about this, we are failing them and this planet in the most profound way. Have you tried telling the truth to the big dairy farmers and the big dairy processors who are driving up carbon emissions and are polluting our waterways north and south? I have raised before the issues in terms of Loch Nha. Loch Derg is the latest of our lakes to turn neon green, a 41st shade of green that you won't be promoting world leaders about. The main cause is nutrient pollution from agriculture, accelerated by the nitrates derogation. When are you going to tell the truth that environmental protection and intensive for-profit animal agriculture are incompatible, that we need to reduce the number of dairy cattle, we need to compensate farmers with a herd reduction scheme and that the nitrates derogation must go. Thank you, Taoiseach, for every time. That concludes the leaders' questions. I'll come back to you another day on that. I have two announcements to make before I move on.