Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I am being realistic on the basis that an agreement has been implemented in Northern Ireland, and due to the necessity of agreeing an action plan and the financial and other implications of it for the country. Moreover, the farming fraternity is acutely aware of the issues that have arisen. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government went to Europe on the basis of the Brosnan proposals. They are not being accepted by the Commission, nor have many other proposals put forward by other member states which also had to be changed in order to satisfy the water quality issues set down by the Commission. We are in the process of having serious discussions with the Commission to ascertain what may be acceptable. On that basis, perhaps some compromise may be needed in order to have an acceptable nitrates action plan.

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