A new Cabinet committee will "drive" an improvement in water quality and ensure "efforts are undertaken in partnership with farmers," the Taoiseach has pledged.

The new Cabinet committee on water quality will include both the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and several ministers including Ministers for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

According to Taoiseach Micheál Martin, the new committee "will be important to safeguard the economic contribution farmers are making in the areas most affected by the derogation as well to implement workable solutions to lower the agricultural impact on water quality".

The Taoiseach told the Dáil yesterday (Tuesday, February 25) that the new Cabinet committee will "meet shortly for the first time".

The Taoiseach also highlighted to TDs that while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data for 2023 shows that Irish water quality, "while improving in some areas, is a matter of ongoing concern".

"The government acknowledges that a more focused effort is required to reach our water quality objectives. 

"In addition to the Water Action Plan 2024, last year the government published Water and Agriculture - a collaborative approach, a plan which sets out a range of measures that address the twin objectives of improving water quality and building a convincing case for the maintenance of Ireland's derogation from certain aspects of the European Union's nitrates directive," Micheál Martin said.

A number of TDs stressed to the Taoiseach yesterday that the "nitrates derogation is vital to the viability of family farms" .

He said that the government's "commitment to addressing water quality improvements across all sectors" was "more than just about the nitrates directive" but he also set out the government's current strategy in relation to the nitrates derogation.

"Once approved, that will then be subject to a strategic environmental assessment, an appropriate assessment and public consultation before finalising the submission for the commission," the Taoiseach said.

He also detailed that the sixth NAP must be in place before the a vote can be taken by the European Commission's nitrates committee on Ireland's renewal bid.

"A vote is permitted only when the commission is satisfied that Ireland's sixth NAP demonstrating improvements in water quality has been given to the nitrates committee and the commission is satisfied with the proposed derogation programme.

"We will continue to work with stakeholders in that regard," Micheál Martin added.

Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael TDs have welcomed the establishment of the Cabinet committee on water quality.

But the Fianna Fáil TD for Sligo-Leitrim, Eamon Scanlon, also warned that "it is crucial that this project move on quickly to let farmers know exactly how they can farm into the future".

Meanwhile the Fine Gael TD for Galway East, Pete Roche, said: "The nitrates derogation is a national asset on which a sector of our economy depends, and Ireland must do everything it can to ensure we retain it"