John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)

They do not change. They are in the existing regulations, which have been working well up to now. I do not see any need to change them.

On slurry storage, it is about the efficient management of slurry and manure on farms to ensure that they are used when it is the most appropriate time for them to be used. It is also about farmers having adequate capacity on their farms. It could be that one farmer wants to facilitate a neighbouring tillage farmer in the context of storing nutrient that they can spread on their land at the appropriate time. We appreciate that the measure we are bringing forward is significant. However, we also believe it is appropriate. It is not about intensification or increased production. We know this because the number of animals in the national herd has been relatively stable over the past number of years. There are additional requirements to come in terms of the capacity of storage required per animal. This is coming down the line, so we need to ensure that we have adequate storage in place. That is what we are seeking to do here.