Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 1424: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the problems faced by the dairy and pig industries and the deficiencies in phosphate; his plans to review the nitrates directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32145/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations, commonly known as the 'Nitrates Regulations', give effect to the Nitrates Directive and constitute the legal basis for Ireland's Nitrates Action Programme (NAP).

In accordance with the Regulations, Ireland's Nitrates Action Programme must be reviewed this year. A comprehensive public consultation process on proposed revisions to the NAP was initiated by my Department in June 2010. An Expert Advisory Group was established in July 2010 to provide an independent assessment of submissions made by interested parties as part of the consultation process. The issues referred to in the Question were among those raised in the submissions received.

The Expert Advisory Group presented its report to me and to my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, last week.

The conclusions and recommendations of the Group are now under consideration and will inform any adjustments to the existing NAP.