Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)

Is it not the case that due to three separate REP schemes over 15 years and the good farming practice guidelines introduced in 1996 water quality has dramatically improved in that period and we have the best quality ground water and river water in the entire EU and are one of the top 25 in the world? Is it not the case that Dr. Cross said at a meeting of the Joint Committee on the Environment and Local Government last week the nitrogen tables need to be reviewed and that he was prepared to review them if the Minister requested Teagasc to do so? At this late stage will the Minister ask Teagasc to review the tables? Is it not the case that every other country that made an application for a nitrates derogation has had to wait years to have it approved? Does the Minister believe we can succeed in getting it in six months? Is the Minister aware of research in the UK where similar samples were sent to four separate laboratories to analyse the nitrogen content of soil and the variation was between 63 kgs and 133 kgs of nitrogen per hectare? How can the tables be consistent given that type of inconsistency on a scientific level?

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