Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I am asking the Minister to verify that this was legal.

There is serious concern about the use of nitrates, particularly by the agriculture sector. The Minister expressed the wish that the country be treated as one unit in terms of measures which he hopes will be introduced in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and Food in regard to the use of nitrates. Most experienced professionals dealing with this matter agree that it is not necessary to treat the country as one unit and that it is necessary to differentiate between the west and the intensive agricultural areas of Leinster and the dairying areas of the south where there is extensive use of nitrates. There is no doubt the agriculture industry, which is already on its knees, must accept the reasonable imposition of rules and regulations to ensure a safer environment and quality of water.