Mr. Jack Nolan:

There are scientific criteria in the directive that say if farmers meet things such as a long growing season, high rainfall, high denitrification capacity, that they can apply for a derogation. The 250 kg/ha on certain land is perfect, but on other land maybe it should be 50 kg/ha. Unless you get into the individual soil type, it is very hard to have a figure. Who says 170 kg/ha is right? It was a figure arrived at back in 1991. Teagasc research shows that if farmers comply with all the measures in the derogation, spread the slurry at the right time and similarly the chemical fertiliser and use the economic breeding index, EBI, and low crude protein, the derogation is sustainable and it should be something that Ireland avails of.