Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 73: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food her views on removing the deadline imposed on farmers for slurry spreading in view of the fact that the changing climate is having a detrimental effect on this practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27078/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The prohibited periods for the spreading of fertilizers are set down in the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters) Regulations 2006, made by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The objective of the Regulations is to provide statutory support for good farming practices to protect waters from potential pollution from agricultural sources. The prohibited periods vary slightly depending on the type of fertilizer in question and the part of the country, or zone, in which a holding is located.

The zones and prohibited periods are based on scientific research and advice, taking account of factors such as growing seasons, climate and Irish farming systems. These issues were finalised following wide-ranging consultation with interested parties and submitted to the European Commission by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government as part of Ireland's Nitrates Action Programme in 2005.