Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 November 2016
673. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the transitional arrangements for pig farmers can be allowed to continue in the current format until the full review of the nitrates regulations in 2017 is completed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37665/16]
View answerThe European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2014 are the responsibility of the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. The current arrangement negotiated with the Commission in Ireland’s action programme for Nitrates whereby the intensive sectors (Pig, Poultry and Mushroom composts) are allowed to apply manures in excess of crop requirement is due to expire at the end of the year. The arrangement was put in place in 2006 to assist the industry to comply with the regulations and has been moving the industry towards full compliance over the intervening 10 years.
In 2017, the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, assisted by my Department will embark on a review of its Nitrates Action Programme with the European Commission, with a view to having in place by 2018, an agreed Nitrates Action Programme that will run from 2018 to 2021. In addition, a request for a new nitrates derogation will be submitted to the Commission as part of the review process.
Agreeing a new action programme and securing a derogation will be a significant objective for 2017. Although having been successful in all previous derogation requests, this review will be complicated by the recent EPA report on Water Quality 2012 – 2015. Previous reports all revealed an increase in water quality albeit a slow and gradual improvement. This report, however, at best reveals a stalling of this trend in improvement and at worst shows a slight deterioration in the water quality of certain types of water courses.
I understand that a full consultation process will be carried out as part of reviewing the action programme in early 2017 and all issues raised by stakeholders will be fully considered as part of this process.
