Mr. Bill Callanan:

The current derogation ends at the end of 2025, so we need to be applying in late 2024 and commencing the process of the nitrates action programme. The process is very simple, namely, a state must have agreed its action programme with the Commission. Before a vote is even countenanced by the Commission, it requires a statutory instrument to give effect to the action programme. It will not accept a vote in advance of a state having its action plan agree with it, put into legislation and every step done. Then the state puts in for a vote on the derogation and must go back and amend the legislation to take account of that vote. It just shows this idea it is just a wink and a nod is not the way it works with the Commission.