Shane Ross (Independent)

I do not claim any great knowledge of the nitrates directive. However, when I read the background I was very surprised to hear that the directive was first meant to come into force in 1991. It amazes me that it did not come into force much earlier and that successive Governments have resisted its implementation for so long. The reasons have been put forward by the Opposition in the motion. I condemn the motion because the Minister should be commended for hastening this in his early days in office, and the directive should have been implemented a long time ago.

It is not particularly easy for a Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to put such a directive in place because he is quite certain, particularly given the constituency he represents, to meet the sort of resistance which we are coming across in the House today. That resistance is purely opportunistic and panders to the farming lobby at the expense of the rest of us.

I commend the Minister on his action, because that is what ministerial office is about, while being in Opposition is, unfortunately, about creating trouble and difficulties for people who are taking decisions which they ought to take in those positions, even at a small political cost. I also commend the Minister on the speech he made because it seems he wrote his own speech, an unusual experience for Ministers speaking in this House.