Currently there are 8,000 people employed either directly or indirectly in the pig farming industry in Ireland.

At the end of 2016, the derogation that currently exists in respect of the relaxation of rules around slurry spreading will come to an end. Under the programme for Government, what are the plans of the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government or the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to deal with this important issue? This could have the consequence of putting many people out of business.

The focus is on the Minister today.

I seem to be on the spot this morning.

It is his audition.

This is an important issue. Ireland has negotiated derogations from the nitrates directive in respect of our nitrates action plan in a series of areas linked to agriculture. These derogations are important for the expansion potential of many sectors, including the pig sector.

I will be consulting my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, to figure out a way in which we can ensure that we can give some certainty to the pig industry in this context. We have a little time to do that. Certainly, there is a need for continuity in terms of the derogation. Of course we will have to negotiate with the European Commission to ensure that can be facilitated.