Written answers

Thursday, 16 February 2006

Department of Agriculture and Food

EU Directives

5:00 pm

Photo of Mary UptonMary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 20: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will provide copies of correspondence between her Department and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government which refer to the implementation of the nitrates directive since 1 January 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5923/06]

Photo of Damien EnglishDamien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the discussions she or officials of her Department have had with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the nitrates implementation plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5619/06]

Photo of Jim O'KeeffeJim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the discussions she has had with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government prior to the signing into law of the nitrates directive; the dates of such discussions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5605/06]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 20, 74 and 81 together.

The implementation of the nitrates directive is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Minister, Deputy Roche, made regulations giving legal effect to Ireland's national action programme under the directive on 11 December 2005.

My Department, in consultation with Teagasc, has worked closely over a long period with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in developing the action programme and the regulations. Negotiations have now begun with the European Commission with a view to securing a derogation that will allow certain farmers to operate, under appropriate conditions and controls, up to a level of 250kg of organic nitrogen per hectare. My Department, with the assistance of Teagasc, is taking the lead in this matter but is again working closely with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government toward achieving a successful outcome.

Photo of Dinny McGinleyDinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the advice provided to the Government by Teagasc on the enactment of the nitrates directive into Irish law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5603/06]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 26: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the discussions she has had with the director of Teagasc prior to the signing into law of the nitrates directive; the dates of such discussions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5604/06]

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 60: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will furnish the full scientific information provided to her Department on the nitrates directive by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government; if she will also furnish the complete scientific information provided to her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5924/06]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 26 and 60 together.

The implementation of the nitrates directive is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, recently made regulations giving legal effect to Ireland's national action programme under the directive.

Officials from my Department and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government worked closely with Teagasc throughout the entire process of developing the action programme, the regulations and the derogation application. A series of meetings, involving Teagasc and both Departments, took place during 2005 to examine a number of issues and to facilitate submission of the draft regulations to the Commission. In the negotiations which followed, and which were frequently difficult, both Departments made use of the advice provided by Teagasc. Documents provided by Teagasc, including a note on aspects of the proposed nitrogen fertilisation rates for grassland in Ireland, were provided to the Commission.

It was the Commission which determined the final content of the regulations. Teagasc has recently indicated that it may be possible to review part of the advice it had given on the application of phosphorus, in a way that could improve the effectiveness of the regulations. The Government and the European Commission saw merit in allowing Teagasc time to elaborate this new advice and, accordingly, the Minister, Deputy Roche, announced a brief de facto deferral of the implementation of Part 3 of the regulations.

Teagasc has been requested to provide, as a matter of urgency, the necessary scientific case to support any revision of the phosphorus tables in the regulations. The two Departments will carefully consider any submission received from Teagasc while also bearing in mind that any proposals for revision of the phosphorus tables will have to respect the environmental requirements associated with the nitrates directive and meet with the agreement of the European Commission.

Teagasc has not been specifically requested to review its advice on nitrogen issues. However, to the extent that its revised submission on crop nutrient requirements suggests any further beneficial adjustments to the regulatory regime, these will, of course, be considered. The possibility of such further adjustments will also depend on their respecting the environmental requirements involved and on their acceptance by the European Commission.

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