Susan O'Keeffe (Labour)

I request the Leader to ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, to consider extending again the period during which slurry may be spread. It was originally extended from September to the end of October owing to the high rainfall that month. I need not point out that the rainfall has been even higher in October. Farmers are struggling to get slurry out and it is environmentally unfriendly to do so in the current conditions. I ask that the Minister to consider extending the slurry spreading season for a further two weeks.