Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I invite the witnesses to pick up on the final point made by Mr. Callanan concerning the trailing shoe. That is welcomed and it is the right direction. I will not open old wounds, but we have had the argument about extensions on slurry spreading. From a water quality point of view it is totally contradictory that farmers have to farm by calendar and are forced to have the slurry out by Tuesday on saturated ground when spreading slurry during a dry spell, by trailing shoe or a splash plate, will not cause nearly as much environmental damage. We have to stick adamantly to calendar dates. Let us look at the big picture here. We are trying to use the most environmentally friendly methods. Is it not imperative that we will have some flexibility in the process and procedures to get the best outcome in the interests of the environment?

I have a couple of questions about our previous report. That called for the Department to undertake a review of the management and import of nitrogen fertilisers. Has that commenced? What stage has it reached?

I also wish to direct a question to Teagasc and the Department. I will not go into specifics but based on all the aforementioned we are all on the same page. What, if any, changes have been made to the curriculum in agricultural colleges with a view to training young farmers for the future, that is, for the necessary changes and diversifications Teagasc has identified? Has there been any change in the curriculum in the agricultural college since this debate commenced?

I would also like to know what actions and timelines the Department has set and what incentives it is using to encourage the agricultural fraternity to undertake the 28 measures in Teagasc's mitigation pathway. Is this being discussed? It seems that the agricultural sector as a whole, including both the representative bodies and the Department, has accepted the pathway. What progress has been made in selling that to the farmers to get uptake from them? I may have supplementary questions based on the answers.