Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

The Minister neglected to mention that before the Common Position was reached, it was proposed to reduce the quantities of pesticides supplied or used by 50%. That proposal did not take into account the national plant health requirement to have certain substances available. Similarly, it did not take into consideration the properties of the substances concerned. Will a list of the specific pesticides that are to be prohibited as a result of the directive, or the Common Position that has been reached, be provided? The Minister mentioned that people will have to be trained to use pesticides. Will such training comprise another layer of bureaucracy to be dealt with by landowners and farmers before they can set about their daily business of growing crops? What is the Irish position on this directive? I accept that the directive is specifically aimed at protecting human and animal health, which is laudable. We need to find out, within the remit of Question Time, what impact the directive will have on farmers and landowners. Will a list of pesticides be prescribed?

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