Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)

The Taoiseach said the position the Government has obtained is satisfactory. Fianna Fáil backbenchers have spoken from both sides of their mouths in recent days. One blames the Minister for Agriculture and Food, the other blames the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I blame both Ministers and the Taoiseach. These failures are unacceptable.

We must insist that the Minister for Agriculture and Food take responsibility for poor performance on this issue, as well as on the sugar beet crisis. The food labelling debacle and many other issues that farmers have overcome have already created a difficult climate. I call on the Minister to take leadership on the nitrates issue sooner rather than later.

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