Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 367: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the proposals, which she indicated needed to be sent forward to the European Commission, regarding to the nitrates directive, have been submitted to date; the proposals for change to the regulations, which the authorities here have outlined in the said submission. [23541/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government announced on 18 May 2006 that he had sent proposals for amendments to the Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters Regulations 2005 to the European Commission for consideration. The proposals, which the Minister has outlined, were developed in conjunction with my Department and with the input of Teagasc and address a range of important issues identified in the Teagasc submission and raised by the farming bodies. I am satisfied that the changes proposed to the Commission will be of major benefit to Irish farmers, in that they will provide them with greater flexibility in complying with fertiliser limits and simplify certain aspects of the Regulations.