Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I wish to follow up on the question asked by Deputy Creed regarding the consultation between the different authorities on who will be doing inspections or if any inspections will be carried out. It is a very serious problem for farmers who are now answerable to many different groups. It is vital that inspections are reduced to a minimum.

The Minister of State referred to the weather had last year. We cannot go by the calendar structures, as far as spreading slurry and things like that are concerned. In Northern Ireland, the authorities across the Border from where I live have a much more realistic system, whereby farmers can decide when the best time to spread slurry, that is, when the ground is dry and the weather is suitable. Has the Minister examined that system?

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