MEP Ciaran Mullooly has called on the European Commission to immediately clarify the specific conditions required for Ireland to maintain its nitrates derogation.
The Midlands North West MEP was speaking following the Government’s proposals to carry out assessments on the expected impact of re-granting nitrates derogations to farmers.
Mullooly criticised the additional European regulations now being demanded.
“The job of Irish farmers is getting tougher. After months of diligent work on water quality aimed at retaining our nitrates directive, comes yet another demand,” he said.
“An assessment under the Habitats Directive was never part of this process up to now. It was never needed.”
“In improving water quality and meeting existing environmental requirements, the family farmers of Ireland have delivered on those requests and this has been confirmed by the EPA’s latest report on water quality with significant reductions in nitrate levels.”
Water quality
Similar concerns have also been raised by farm organisations who said it will bring immense uncertainty to farmers.
Mullooly added that this derogation is not optional, it’s vital for the livelihoods of thousands of farm families.
“It is the clear understanding of the Irish farming sector that adopting new technologies and strategies to protect water quality, particularly in areas with higher stocking rates per acre, would be sufficient to meet the required standards to retain the derogation,” he added.
“Farmers need clarity. I'm calling on the Irish Agriculture Minister to engage with the Commissioner and seek clear, concise guidelines and stop this ridiculous charade that's going on, before the Commission moves the goalposts again.”
Read more
IFA slams derogation curveball as ‘logistically mind boggling’
Radical shakeup of State's derogation application process on table
New derogation conditionality an ‘extra layer’ between an extension - Heydon
MEP Ciaran Mullooly has called on the European Commission to immediately clarify the specific conditions required for Ireland to maintain its nitrates derogation.
The Midlands North West MEP was speaking following the Government’s proposals to carry out assessments on the expected impact of re-granting nitrates derogations to farmers.
Mullooly criticised the additional European regulations now being demanded.
“The job of Irish farmers is getting tougher. After months of diligent work on water quality aimed at retaining our nitrates directive, comes yet another demand,” he said.
“An assessment under the Habitats Directive was never part of this process up to now. It was never needed.”
“In improving water quality and meeting existing environmental requirements, the family farmers of Ireland have delivered on those requests and this has been confirmed by the EPA’s latest report on water quality with significant reductions in nitrate levels.”
Water quality
Similar concerns have also been raised by farm organisations who said it will bring immense uncertainty to farmers.
Mullooly added that this derogation is not optional, it’s vital for the livelihoods of thousands of farm families.
“It is the clear understanding of the Irish farming sector that adopting new technologies and strategies to protect water quality, particularly in areas with higher stocking rates per acre, would be sufficient to meet the required standards to retain the derogation,” he added.
“Farmers need clarity. I'm calling on the Irish Agriculture Minister to engage with the Commissioner and seek clear, concise guidelines and stop this ridiculous charade that's going on, before the Commission moves the goalposts again.”
Read more
IFA slams derogation curveball as ‘logistically mind boggling’
Radical shakeup of State's derogation application process on table
New derogation conditionality an ‘extra layer’ between an extension - Heydon
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: