Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support the call for a slurry spreading derogation. This issue has been on the agenda and needs to be addressed. The deadline is the night of 14 October. It is a major issue for the agricultural community following an exceptionally wet summer. Covers in some areas are too heavy to access slurry. Farmers are still cutting grain in my part of the world; therefore, slurry cannot be spread on the stubbed ground. This usually happens on pig farms. Something needs to be done for the agricultural community. I hope the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine or the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government will examine the issue. The derogation was taken away in Denmark and we have to be conscious of this, but 15 October is not an appropriate deadline for farmers to cease spreading slurry. Enforcing it will create a hazard and I hope something can be done. Addressing it should not be happen on the final day. Farmers are spreading as much as slurry as they can because they have to. If the decision is left to the last minute, the damage will be done and it will be no good for farmers or the environment. The issue needs to be addressed this week, if possible, in order that farmers can have a road map.