Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made at the Agriculture Council meeting on 26 November 2007 regarding the proposed directive limiting the use of chemical sprays in agriculture; the next steps to be taken in respect of this proposed directive; when it is expected to be finalised; the role for national parliaments in implementing these directives in Irish law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34691/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Directive on the sustainable use of pesticides was not discussed at the Agriculture Council meeting on the 26 November. The present position with this Directive is that it is scheduled for discussion at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 17 to 19 December with a view to achieving political agreement. This Directive was discussed at Coreper on 12 December but failed to reach agreement on two issues, and referred discussions on these two articles to the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting next week.

The process for reaching agreement on these proposals involves the Co-decision procedure between the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. The European Parliament has already voted on this Directive at its first reading and has made 122 amendments to the text. Should there be political agreement at Council next week, the text will then be forwarded to the Parliament to initiate discussions between the Council and Parliament with a view to achieving a common position on the text of the Directive. These second reading discussions are likely to commence in April 2008.

The Directive, when agreed, will be transposed into Irish law by way of a Statutory Instrument within the prescribed time limits. The proposed Directive was discussed by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food on 2 November 2006.