James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the consultation he has had with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with regard to ensuring compliance measures under the water frameworks directive are appropriate; the implications he envisages this directive will have for the farming community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20298/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive is the responsibility of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Minister has established seven River Basin District Projects whose responsibilities include the development of management plans for each River Basin District, designed to achieve the water quality objectives required by the Water Framework Directive.

Draft management plans have been published for public consultation and it is open to all stakeholders to make an input to the process on or before 22 June 2009. My Department will also be providing its views, as appropriate, as part of that consultation process.

The Nitrates Regulations are the primary instrument for addressing water quality issues relating to the agriculture sector. Agriculture can make a major contribution to the achievement of the overall Water Framework Directive water quality objectives and I believe it is already doing so through the efforts being made by farmers in meeting their responsibilities under the Nitrates Regulations.

Inspections to meet the requirements of the Nitrates Regulations are undertaken by my Department. My 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.