Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his views on giving farmers more flexibility in the spreading of slurry and farmyard manure for the remainder of 2008 owing to the wet weather recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37442/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The spreading of slurry and farmyard manure is governed by the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations made by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. In view of the poor weather conditions in recent months, with the exceptional rainfall making land unsuitable at times for the spreading of livestock manures, I obtained the agreement of the Minister, Deputy Gormley, to an extension of the spreading period for slurry to 31 October, though I am conscious of the continuing difficulties being experienced by farmers to spread slurry.