Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if her Department has undertaken an assessment of the implications for Irish farming of the EU plan to reduce the use of crop sprays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21800/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The EU Commission has proposed a Thematic Strategy for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides. The Strategy includes a number of initiatives to reduce the impact of sprays. The Commission has also proposed a framework Directive on the sustainable use of pesticides. The aim of this proposal is to reduce the risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment. The current Commission proposal does not contain any plan to "reduce the use of crop sprays", except in "sensitive areas", where restrictions on use will be subjected to a risk assessment. Since my Department already carries out such risk assessments during the authorisation process for all pesticides, it is anticipated that there will be no additional implications for Irish farming.

Discussions are ongoing at Council and in the European Parliament and my Department is actively participating in this process. I am aware that several proposals from the European Parliament's Environment Committee refer to "quantitative use reduction" targets, but these proposals have not yet been ratified by the Parliament.