Ireland's national action programme under the nitrates directive was formally submitted to the European Commission on 29 July 2005. The programme was prepared jointly by my Department and the Department of Agriculture and Food, in consultation with Teagasc, and following an extended process of public consultation.
Earlier this week, and again following public consultation, I made regulations to give legal effect to the programme and to respond the judgment of the European Court of Justice which held that Ireland was non-compliant with the nitrates directive. Copies of the regulations are available in the Oireachtas Library.
I should point out that in the negotiation process leading to both the finalisation of the nitrates action programme and the implementation regulations, and on foot of the many submissions received, a number of significant concessions have been obtained for farmers, including postponed commencement of regulations from 1 January 2006 to 1 February 2006, this means that the first closed period will not now come into effect until late 2006, giving farmers a significant transitional period; reductions in the closed periods for spreading slurry for all areas; lesser storage requirement in counties Donegal and Leitrim; major concessions for small mixed pig farms and a new 22-month transitional period for major licensed pig farms; reduced storage requirements for farmers who generally out-winter their animals at a low stocking rate; and reduced buffer zones around water sources. The new transitional arrangements obtained for the major pig producers, together with the additional assistance measures being put in place by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, outlined below, will give that sector a significant window of opportunity to adapt to the new regulatory regime.
The making of regulations allows Ireland to pursue with the European Commission, and other member states, our case for a derogation in appropriate cases from the limit set by the directive with regard to the landspreading of livestock manure. The scientific case in support of the derogation has been prepared by the Department of Agriculture and Food in consultation with Teagasc and my Department. The scope of the derogation being sought will cater not only for intensive dairy farmers who may need a derogation for their own farming activities, but also specifically for grassland holdings importing manure from intensive pig and poultry farms.
The regulations, whose provisions will have effect on a phased basis from 1 February 2006, are intended to promote sustainable agricultural development while protecting the interests of Irish farmers. The fertilisation standards provided are based on guidelines issued by Teagasc with updatings where appropriate and were subject to detailed scrutiny by EU scientific experts. They are agronomically sound and will support optimum yields while providing necessary environmental safeguards.
Farmers generally, including pig and poultry producers, will have to take measures to adapt to the regulations. Some farmers will find that they need to increase their manure storage facilities. Others, particularly pig producers, may have to secure access to additional spreadlands that are in a position to accept pig manure. This is an area where farmers collectively can help themselves and each other. Pig manure contains valuable nutrients which can be used to replace expensive chemical fertilisers. I understand that the Minister for Agriculture and Food will be asking Teagasc to undertake an active promotion campaign to demonstrate the nutrient value of slurry and the savings that farmers can achieve by substituting it for chemical fertiliser.
The Minister for Agriculture and Food has announced a proposed revised farm waste management scheme to be introduced as soon as possible. The revised scheme is specifically intended to assist farmers to meet the new requirements under the nitrates action programme and regulations. The Government has put proposals to the Commission which will mean that pig and poultry farmers will be eligible for the first time for grant aid for storage facilities. The level of grant aid is being increased for all farmers and will be as high as 70% in some counties. The Minister for Agriculture and Food has also announced her intention to introduce a scheme to support the demonstration of new technologies, for example, anaerobic-aerobic digestion systems, to help the agriculture sector, and in particular the pig and poultry sectors, to meet the requirements of the nitrates directive.
