Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

The implementation of the nitrates directive is something of a national disaster. It seems that farmers are being expected to retain every scrap of paper about feed and fertiliser. They have not been told exactly what is required of them. The implementation of the directive should be postponed until a comprehensive information campaign has been put in place. Farmers have been very badly let down. The directive could render the rural environment protection scheme, in which 50,000 farmers are participating, null and void. Some 350,000 people work outside the farm gate in the agriculture industry, which is worth €7 billion to the economy each year.