Ireland's national action programme under the nitrates directive was formally submitted to the European Commission on 29 July 2005. Earlier this month I issued a consultation paper together with the text of draft regulations to give legal effect to the action programme. Copies have been placed in the Oireachtas Library. Submissions and comments on the draft regulations have been requested by 4 November. Following consideration of any comments etc. received, I envisage that the regulations will be made by end November 2005 and the programme will be implemented on a phased basis from 1 January 2006.