Vol. 418 No. 7
69 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the concern of grain growers about the likely reduction in yields arising from the ban on the use of mercury compounds in sprays, and the inferior performance of replacement sprays; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
EC legislation, which provided for the banning of all mercury based agricultural pesticides on environmental and human health grounds, was originally adopted in 1979. In 1989 the EC Commission pressed for the ending of derogations for the use of mercury compounds. The industry in Ireland was satisfied that adequate alternatives were available and that a further derogation of two years was the most that could be justified to carry out final tests on new products. The use of mercury based pesticides as a dressing for cereal seeds was banned from July 1991.
The alternative products used in the 1991-92 cereal crops failed in a minority of cases to prevent adequately the development of fungal disease and some crops have been adversely affected. Disease control was however, effected in the vast bulk of cereal crops and it is anticipated that any remaining problems can be solved with the aid of the information obtained this year. The combination of available pesticides and adjustments in farm husbandry and crop treatment can guard against a recurrence of the problems encountered.
