Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

The action programme wasnot rejected on the basis of the scientific data. It was rejected mainly because it failed to create binding rules for farmers, the prohibited periods for spreading fertiliser needed to be extended, the minimum storage capacity needed to be increased and clear rules needed to be established on nutrient management by reference to crop needs. It was not rejected on the basis of any scientific data or because areas were zoned. There was reference to finalisation of some supporting documents. However, those were guidelines to farmers and were not part of the scientific aspect.

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