Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 422: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will review the restrictions on the ploughing of land between now and mid January 2009 due to the Nitrates Directive, in view of the additional energy costs involved in tillage at that time of year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33312/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The requirements in relation to ploughing are set out in the Nitrates Regulations introduced by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in 2006 (SI No. 378 of 2006). These Regulations require that:

When ploughing arable land between 1 July and 15 January green cover must be provided from a sown crop within six weeks.

Grassland ploughed between 1 July and 15 October must have green cover from a sown crop by 1 November.

Grassland must not be ploughed between 16 October and 30 November.

The overall objective of the Regulations is to protect water quality. Scientific evidence indicates that significant nutrient loss can occur when grassland or arable land is ploughed and where there is no crop planted shortly after ploughing to take up the nutrients that will be released when the buried organic matter breaks down. The provisions of the Regulations are designed to minimise such nutrient losses and do not allow for any flexibility on the designated restricted periods.

The contents of the Regulations, including those in relation to ploughing, were the subject of extensive consultation with stakeholders, including the farming bodies, and were finalised following a long period of negotiation with the EU Commission.