Written answers

Tuesday, 28 March 2006

Department of Agriculture and Food

EU Directives

11:00 pm

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 342: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the Government's stance on the nitrates directive; if her Department is willing to change the current parameters; her views on whether the nitrates directive, along with destocking directive in the west and the beef directives in the south, will guarantee an end to farming here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11984/06]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The implementation of the nitrates directive is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. In December, the Minister made regulations giving legal effect to Ireland's national action programme under the nitrates directive. These regulations were finalised following difficult negotiations between the European Commission and officials of the Departments of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Agriculture and Food. In these discussions, both Departments made use of the advice provided by Teagasc. It was the Commission, however, which determined the final content of the regulations.

In January, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government announced a short de facto deferral of part 3 of the regulations, which covers nutrient management, to allow Teagasc to submit revised advice on phosphorus limits. This revised advice has been received and both the European Commission and the Departments are examining it. Officials from the Departments and Teagasc have had preliminary discussions with the Commission on the matter and, while the Commission's agreement will be required for any amendments that may be proposed to the regulations, I am satisfied that the Commission is open to scientifically robust arguments.

A central issue arising from the nitrates directive is the need to secure a derogation which will allow certain farmers to operate, under appropriate conditions and controls, up to a level of 250 kg of organic nitrogen per hectare. The proposal was given an initial presentation to the EU nitrates committee in December and further scientific data have been supplied to the Commission following bilateral discussions. The proposal will need to be discussed again at future meetings of the nitrates committee before approval can be obtained. Securing this derogation is vital for the most productive dairy farmers in particular and it is important that the position on the regulations is clarified at an early date so that the negotiations on the derogation can proceed. I am working with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to bring matters to a quick conclusion so that Ireland can meet its obligations under the nitrates directive while also safeguarding the future of commercial farming in Ireland and the interests of Irish farmers in general.

Destocking of sheep from certain commonages has been necessary because of the damage done by overgrazing. Commonage framework plans recommending the appropriate level of stocking for each commonage were drawn up following an agreement in 1998 which allowed for the introduction of the measure A payment in REPS of up to €242 per hectare. A complementary state funded compensation scheme, to be administered by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, has recently been announced by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. In certain areas of the Owenduff and Nephin Beg complex in County Mayo, the failure of the vegetation to regenerate means that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is required to take further steps. I understand that full compensation is available to the farmers concerned.

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