Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

There has been confusion in regard to the precedent of the Netherlands' rules and regulations on fertiliser standards, for which the purposes of the nitrates directive and the standards operating in that country have a proper legal basis in the Netherlands. They are not merely recommendations or guidelines. I understand from my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, that he has spoken to the director of Teagasc today. The director confirmed to the Minister that the information Teagasc had in regard to the non-binding nature of the application limits of the Netherlands was based on a non-file draft of the regulations. Teagasc has since confirmed that the fertiliser limits in the finalised Dutch regulation are mandatory and Teagasc is writing to the Minister to confirm that it has the same understanding in this regard. On the issue of the regulations being changed particularly to look at the soil sampling index, the position is that the nutrient value will only be reflective of the crop requirement and, therefore, any call for the regulation to be changed in the absence of soil sampling for the use of phosphorus index 2 will not be accepted by the Commission. I accept, in consultation with my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, there has been clarification on the issue from Teagasc. The position is as stated. Teagasc has confirmed to the Minister the issue regarding the non-factual position in the Netherlands. The confusion has been clarified.

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