Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I also remind Senator Bannon that former Fine Gael Deputy, Ivan Yates, was Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry from 1994 to 1997 and had the opportunity to do something about this. The simple fact is that this matter was left hanging until the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government had the courage to grasp the issue. The Government must address it because Ireland will incur daily fines if we do not implement the directive.

After the judgment against Ireland in March 2004, we were forced to act very quickly. It is to the credit of the Ministers for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Agriculture and Food that meetings were held to discuss the issue, some of which I was glad to attend as a member of my parliamentary party. The Government acted quickly in respect of nitrogen and phosphorus.

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has stated that he is waiting for advice in respect of Part 3 of the regulations and phosphorus. I was glad to see that he referred to nitrogen limits. Most of the farmers I represent would not have a problem with these limits but I would welcome if a way was found to improve the situation for more intensive farmers. We would also like to reach a resolution on the derogation soon. This issue was referred to by the Minister.

When I examined the limits and the different zones of A, B, and C, I remembered when life was simple and farmers, being very good keepers of the environment, would probably spread manure on a fine day. This was the traditional practice. There was good weather in November and December and, if life were simple, we might say this should continue. However, we all appreciate that this will not happen in the future.

I welcome the Minister's reference to the different grants that will be available as part of a farm waste management package. It will be important to put these in place. Farmers must have arrangements in place by 1 January 2007 to divert clean water away from animal manure and slurry. Different dates apply to pig farmers and other farmers but the regulations will apply to all farmers from 1 January 2009. This is a welcome package.

We have been getting different information from Teagasc, which has sometimes been speaking with two voices. It was obvious in the programme in which the Minister was engaged, to which Senator Coonan referred, which has been disappointing. When the Joint Committee on the Environment and Local Government wrote to the director of Teagasc for information, he said that it had been working on the matter for three years. He said that many meetings were held and the amount of material requested on all aspects is quite large and will take several weeks to complete and compile. In addition, the staff involved are currently busy preparing new material requested urgently by the Department. While there was a delay in obtaining information, I hope the Minister has provided sufficient time so that we will quickly receive the required information on phosphorus. Information for farmers is very important. What the Department of Agriculture and Food announced in regard to an advertisement in the farming press is very welcome. We also welcome the explanatory booklet which is designed to explain the new rules clearly and simply.

The proposals for a derogation laid down in the nitrates directive 2004 is important. It has been stated that the derogation is vital for 10,000 extra intensive dairy farmers. I hope the derogation will be agreed by the middle of the year. It is unfair to say that all farmers and farming organisations are annoyed with the Minister. I will quote from an article in the Connacht Tribune which refers to the chairman of County Galway IFA who welcomed the setting up of a sub-committee to review the new report from its scientific staff on the implementation of the nitrates directive. The article reads as follows:

Mr. Silke said that this was a very positive move and added that he was also delighted that the boycott of Teagasc had also been lifted. He said that the IFA had no problem with any staff member working with Teagasc ... But Mr. Silke was confident that the review by the independent sub committee would make it more palatable and workable for farmers of all size holdings.

The president of Macra na Feirme, Mr. Colm Markey, is also quoted in the newspaper as saying that the establishment of a special sub-committee represented a light at the end of the tunnel in relation to the whole nitrates directive debacle. He also stated as follows:

I am hopeful that this sub-committee will prove an effective structure to allow the Board and Teagasc's scientific staff work more closely together to resolve outstanding issues ... There is a need in the whole nitrates debate to recognise a much broader range of factors that influence the effective and responsible use of fertilizers.

This requirement has been clearly laid down by two farming organisations. These farm leaders recognise the need to monitor water. In the EPA report for 2005, the director general said that the EPA issued a number of reports in 2005 on water monitoring. Water quality in Ireland remains of a high standard, with a declining incidence of serious pollution, even though eutrophication and the lack of municipal waste water treatment continued to be the biggest problem. I was pleased that the report paid tribute to the Department for the extra staff the EPA received in 2005. There was a significant increase in staffing levels which will allow the EPA to carry out this work to a very high standard.

Water quality is at the centre of the directive. That the situation is being improved in terms of public supplies is welcome. The Minister will be aware of my views on small group water schemes that must be improved and updated. I pay tribute to him in this regard. Some €58 million has been allocated this year for small water and sewerage schemes in County Galway, while €258 million has been allocated for next year. This is a sizeable amount of money which will help with the water services programme in County Galway.

I agree with what Senator Coonan said about sludge. My colleague, Senator Ulick Burke, raised what is happening in East Galway, the area we represent. Much of the sludge coming from overloaded sewerage schemes and Mutton Island in Galway city has been landed on farms throughout the county. The nitrates directive will help to deal with this issue because it is appalling that people can dump sludge and cause a terrible smell in an area. The directive will go some way towards stopping this indiscriminate dumping.