Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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113. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason farmers and other users of sprays have to go on a course to enable them to spray their land; if this applies to knapsack sprayers; his views that these regulations are proportionate in view of the time and costs involved in attending such courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17051/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive establishes a framework for European Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides by setting minimum rules to reduce the risks to human health and the environment that are associated with pesticide use. It also promotesthe use of integrated pest management. The Directive is designed to further enhance the high level of protection achieved through the entire regulatory system for pesticides.

Implementation of the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directiverelies heavily on the training of the various people involved at all levels of the industry, including Professional Users i.e. any individual who applies professional use Plant Protection Products.

All Professional Users must be appropriately trained i.e. trained for the specific type of application equipment they will be using (e.g. boom sprayer, knapsack etc.).

The need for appropriate training must be viewed in the context of protecting both human health (operators, bystanders and consumers) and the environment and, in particular, maintaining the high quality of our water.