Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 40: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if discussions between himself and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government have concluded with regard to inspection arrangements for the Nitrates Directive Regulations recently published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26003/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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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.

In my statement on 24 April 2009, I indicated my objective 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 ongoing between officials of my Department and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with a view to finalising, as soon as possible, the necessary arrangements in relation to on-farm inspections.