Vol. 553 No. 5
366 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on comments made by a person (details supplied) that, due to the Government's late submission to the EU on the Nitrates Directive, Ireland will be treated less favourably; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14458/02]
The Nitrates Directive was adopted in December 1991 and has been substantially implemented in Ireland since then by the early establishment of monitoring arrangements in relation to water quality and by the establishment in 1996 of a code of good agricultural practice to protect waters from pollution by nitrates from agriculture. Proposals are now being developed in my Department for an action programme, including regulations, to strengthen the application of good agricultural practice in all areas and to give further effect to the Nitrates Directive and other directives in relation to waste management and water quality.
The detailed provisions will be developed over the coming months in consultation with the main farming organisations and other interested parties. In February 2002, my Department issued an information paper on good agricultural practice and protection of the environment, which sets out the background issues and the preferred general approach. As indicated in that document, it is proposed that a limit of 210 kg per hectare of organic manure will apply during the first four years of operation of an action programme and that the potential for applying other appropriate limits in accordance with the directive will be pursued.
