John Bruton
Question:170 Mr. J. Bruton, Mr. J. Mitchell, Miss Flaherty, Mr. Connor and Mr. Carey asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the implications for Ireland of the recently agreed EC directive on nitrates.
Written Answers. - Directive on Nitrates.
The main requirements of this directive, which has not yet been formally notified, are for member states: to monitor nitrates in fresh waters; to identify waters affected, or which could be affected, by nitrate pollution from agricultural sources; to designate, as vulnerable zones, areas of land which drain into identified waters and to prepare action programmes for these zones; and to establish codes of good agricultural practice.
Suitable measures will be developed in Ireland in line with these requirements.