Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)

The reason for being in thismess in the first place and now having to get agreement so quickly is that the Government sat on its laurels on the matter for many years. It should have made proposals long before last year. Is it not the case that pigs, poultry and dairy production will now be restricted in the most vulnerable zones that have been designated along the Border, with some of the midland counties included? The European Commission highlighted that the proposals had an inadequate scientific basis. Will the Minister review the scientific evidence on the basis of proposing the nitrate vulnerable areas, whether they be townlands or communities, and submit it to Brussels rather than designating the whole country and imposing huge restrictions that are not necessary to meet the requirements set down under the nitrates directive?

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