Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 55: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if future inspection arrangements for the nitrates directive will be carried out by his Department or the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government; the discussions he has had with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20232/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Inspections to meet the requirements of the Nitrates Regulations are undertaken by my Department. The Department's inspectors currently undertake all on-farm cross-compliance inspections, including checks for compliance with the Nitrates Regulations and have considerable expertise in this area.

On-farm inspections are also required under the EU Water Framework Directive which is the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

My objective is to ensure that the duplication of on-farm inspections is avoided for practical reasons, to minimise costs and to simplify the inspection arrangements from the farmer's perspective.

Discussions are taking place between officials of my Department and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to finalise the necessary arrangements in relation to inspections.