Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

What the Deputy is asking here is that we do not do it until such time as - God knows when - there is one in the North. That will create all sorts of problems in the management of fertiliser, the management of the nitrates derogation, getting flexibility at a European level, being able to run the eco-schemes, and getting up and operational. The fertiliser database will be straightforward and practical. I do not believe it will interrupt cross-Border trade at al. The legal obligation is to ensure there is an accurate record of what fertiliser is on the farm.

The Deputy was dancing around a bit in terms of what his ask actually was. He indicated that maybe I should be engaging more. However, to be clear, his ask is that is that we do not do a database until there is an all-island one. I cannot say when that would be. I do not believe that is reasonable, practical or in the interests of farmers.