Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The general principle of the system is that the reporting burdens are being reduced here and this system is about making life easier for farmers. It is to all of our benefit that we do this and have a better handle on how much fertiliser is spread here. We will definitely have a much clearer picture on that with this process in place than we have to date.

Also, the Senator talked about how much fertiliser is spread. When we get this legislation in place before the end of the year, this mechanism will allow an eco-scheme that rewards farmers for precision spreading and make sure we are doing that better. Looking at it in the round, everything we are doing cumulatively is about assisting farmers and it is to all farmers' benefit not only to have a better handle on this but that we see an improvement in water quality across our country and improved nitrate reviews down the line. It is in all our benefit that we get this back the right way and I am confident the system will work well.