Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

What Deputy Carthy seems to be suggesting is that we do not do any fertiliser register at all until such time as there is one in Northern Ireland. I do not agree with that. Part of the reason we need the register is that we have made commitments relating to the nitrates regulation and the application of the derogation. We have made commitments to bring in a fertiliser register as part of that. That will need to be renewed in 2025. I will shortly engage with the Commission to seek additional flexibility in the mid-term review. Part of what we have signed up to is to introduce a fertiliser database so we can accurately know what fertilisers are on farms in the country. If we do not do that, that will put the derogation in real difficulty.

We just recently launched the new CAP programme. One of the eco-schemes in the new programme is based on fertiliser as well and it is based on us having a fertiliser register. I have no idea how long it will take before there is a national register in in the North but it will be very useful for us in the South. It will be important for the flexibility of the nitrates derogation and to run the eco-schemes. I simply do not agree with the Deputy that we should close our book down here and do not move on this until such time as the North moves. That is not practical, unfortunately.

In terms of its structure, the obligation is the same. Fertiliser can be purchased in the North or the South. There are no barriers to buying in the North or the South. That remains the same. The obligation relates to recording. If a farmer buys it in a co-op in Carndonagh or in Monaghan, the co-op or the merchant will load it onto the database. If a farmer buys it across the Border, the farmer will have to load it onto the database.