Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Sherlock's questions relate to the regulation rather than the directive. Ireland, like other European countries, will have to draw up an action plan. With regard to the regulation, we oppose the proposal to introduce hazard-based cut-off criteria for the approval of substances. The Deputy asked about training. People will be trained to apply and use pesticides properly, in line with best practice. Certain forms of machinery will be used to apply various pesticides at different times. Public commentary on this issue often causes confusion when people refer to the "directive" rather than the "regulation". I understand that until now, the approval phase involved various products being deemed to be suitable for use on land. The residue regulations provide for consumer protection. The directive and regulation under discussion will address a lacuna that exists in the use phase, when a particular pesticide is applied. While Ireland and Britain are often on different sides of the argument at meetings of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, we have been ad idem with Britain and Hungary on these measures. We have opposed some of the proposals because we believe we should have had an opportunity to undertake an impact assessment of them. We have not received such a concession from the European Commission.

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