I welcome the Minister for Health and Children. While this is an important matter for the Departments of Health and Children and the Environment and Local Government, it is the agricultural aspects of it I wish to address.
Agriculture has changed dramatically during the past 30 to 40 years. Many of the changes have been based on scientific developments and in general have led to improvements in output, greater productivity and sometimes, intensive farming. In almost all cases there is need for careful monitoring because of the serious effects on the environment.
The use of fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides has been important in increasing crop yield. The discovery that crop yield could be improved by the application of nitrates, phosphates and potassium in areas where these are deficient in the soil has been of the greatest importance. How much help are farmers being given in assessing whether the soil over which they are spreading expensive fertilisers is deficient in these minerals? Farmers are becoming increasingly aware that excess fertiliser will run off into water courses and their money is literally going down the drain. How much help are they being given to prevent this waste?
It is not just the waste of money that I wish to address, the adverse effect of high phosphate levels in our rivers and lakes must be addressed also. During the last Seanad I referred to the report of the Environmental Protection Agency on water quality in Ireland for the period 1991-4 which makes woeful reading. Leaving aside the steadily increasing pollution of drinking water in rural waters by E.Coli from animals in areas where there is over-grazing the report states that "gross organic pollution by sewage and industry has been initially eliminated by the installation of new or upgraded waste treatment plants" but that phosphorus is not removed unless there is specific phosphorus removal technology installed in the sewage treatment plant. This technology has been installed in a considerable number of sewage treatment plants. While the removal of phosphorus from these sources is relatively easy to achieve, it is much more difficult to deal with the diffuse agricultural sources which present a major problem. They have made a major contribution to the deterioration of water quality, the deoxygenation and eutrophication of water and, directly, fish kills.
Unless slurry and fertiliser are applied carefully, episodes such as those we witnessed this summer will recur. There are regulations and guidelines in place but are they well-policed? As Senators are aware, officials of the Environmental Protection Agency are not available at weekends. Is it not possible to secure the co-operation of the Department of the Environment so that action can be taken immediately an episode occurs?
While policing is vital, it is of more importance to prevent abuses occurring. In a joint Irish-UK study in 1995 Poulton and his colleagues pointed out that current recommended phosphorus application rates in Ireland are two to three times the rates recommended for the same crop under similar conditions in England and Wales by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. Have tests been conducted to identify those soils which may have been phosphorus deficient but which now have large accumulations of surplus phosphate which runs off with rain water into rivers and lakes? This was pointed out in an article by Fay and his co-workers in 1995. How easily can farmers obtain advice on the need to spread fertiliser?
Some years ago the Environmental Protection Agency conducted a survey which showed that almost 30 per cent of river water could be regarded as eutrophic to a greater or lesser extent. There is excessive plant and algae growth in many lakes. During the summer the Lakes of Killarney had to be closed — a horrific spectacle — due to the growth of what is known as nuisance algae. A major international angling competition had to be cancelled and swimming and boating became impossible. The algae was so thick the lakes were considered unsafe for rowing boats as submerged rocks could not be negotiated carefully. I am not a botanist but I am aware that a slight tilt in the level of nutrients in lake water can cause dramatic changes in flora and fauna therein. It will take many years to reverse this process. Because phosphates sink to the bottom of the lake, nuisance algae will continue to appear each summer in strong sunlight. Action needs to be taken urgently.
In an article in the Farmers Journal under the heading “Enrichment more serious than spills in fish kills” our colleague, Senator Dardis, stated:
Recent high profile fish kills, most notably in the Mulcair River, conceal the reality of water pollution. Serious one-off incidents attract a lot of publicity and create controversy. The Mulcair kill has led to calls for codes of practice, waterway authorities, countryside management plans and fisheries forums.
However, a study of the causes of fish kills reveals that phosphates are a much more serious and insidious source of water pollution. Enrichment of waters, especially lakes, by phosphates from treated sewage effluent, household detergents and fertilisers has caused more enduring damage than the more publicised individual spillages or "point-sources".
That is at the heart of the matter. We are dealing with high profile one-off incidents which are the easiest to control while little notice is being taken that pollution of water by phosphates is continuing unabated. Senator Dardis went on to state:
According to Chris Moriarty of the Fisheries Research Centre at Abbotstown "point-source problems diminished rapidly after 1987 but have been gradually replaced by those caused by enrichment".
Dr. Moriarty has written extensively on the matter.
The general public is becoming increasingly concerned about the effect of farming on the environment. I am concerned about this matter — I come from a farming background — because of its importance from an economic, environmental and tourism point of view. We do not want to be known as the Emerald Isle because our lakes are emerald throughout the summer. That would not be a desirable image to portray. I am also concerned about the matter from a public health point of view.
There are serious issues to be addressed. Is the Minister for Agriculture and Food providing those who spread fertiliser with enough support and policing the situation where it is essential to do so?
