Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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116. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the advancement of work to prepare the nitrates plan for submission to Brussels by the required date in June 2025; if measures to protect the sustainability of Ireland's agricultural industry will be a priority in it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25499/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is responsible for the Nitrates Action Programme and the associated Regulations. However, my Department works very closely with his Department on the development of that Programme, and on the implementation of the Regulations.

Indeed, given the importance of both improving water quality and securing Ireland’s Nitrates derogation, there is a whole-of- Government approach to this important work area. This is very much evident through the Programme for Government, which clearly sets out this Government's ambition to improve water quality and put the strongest case forward to secure retention of Ireland's Nitrates derogation.

Our commitment is further demonstrated through the Cabinet Committee on Water Quality, chaired by the Taoiseach and also involving the Tánaiste and several key Ministers, which has been established to coordinate water quality improvements across all sectors.

In relation to preparation of the sixth Nitrates Action Programme, work is ongoing and the Nitrates Expert Group is meeting regularly to progress their recommendations. Proposals regarding the sixth Nitrates Action Programme will be published by my colleague, Minister Browne, in due course, and there will be a public consultation period to allow for stakeholder input before measures are finalised.

The sixth Nitrates Action Programme will build on the current Programme in terms of measures to protect and improve water quality going forward. I believe it will make a significant contribution to improving the overall sustainability of our agri-food industry into the future and, importantly, will aim to ensure we can make the strongest scientific argument possible for continuance of our Nitrates derogation.

The Government’s objective is to have the sixth Programme finalised and in place before year end, thereby facilitating consideration by the EU Nitrates Committee of Ireland's request for a derogation.

At last December’s EU Nitrates Committee meeting, my Department advised the European Commission that Ireland is seeking permission to continue applying in excess of 170kg livestock manure nitrogen per hectare from 2026.

Over the coming months, my Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the broader Government will continue to work together and to engage with stakeholders, both on the sixth Nitrates Action Programme and on the Nitrates derogation, to ensure we get the best possible outcome for Ireland post-2025.