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The newly proposed conditionality for farmers to apply for a nitrates derogation is an “extra layer” needed for a derogation extension, according to Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon
Minister Heydon spoke on Morning Ireland about the planned changes to how derogations will be granted to farmers as the Department of Agriculture looks to extend the nitrates derogation before it expires at the end of the year.
The plans will see the Department producing detailed impact assessments on every catchment or sub-catchment with derogation applicants before granting derogations to farmers into the future.
Speaking on, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said previous actions and measures are proof that the derogation is working; holding farmers to a higher level.
“It will be additional conditionality that we have to try and meet and it’s an extra layer, that in previous applications to get an extension to our derogation, we didn’t have to face,” he said.
“Farmers have made great strides in terms of their efforts to improve water quality as well as produce the top-quality food that’s trusted home and abroad.
“They take on different conditionality, however, it also takes into account that we are different to most other European countries.”
Approach
Minister Heydon said the next steps include finding a system to implement these measures that satisfies both the European Commission and Irish farmers.
“What I’m saying to stakeholders now is that I need to go back to the Commission and outline an approach that will satisfy that from the Commission’s perspective. That is onerous, it is a big change, that’s why I’ve engaged with stakeholders from all of the farm organisations through to industry and farmers themselves,” he added.
“Every time we have got an extension of a derogation, the analysis has always been on water quality. What is being asked now is an extra layer of dealing with the Habitats Directive and it’s dealing with its impact in that regard.
“We need to avoid any cliff edge; that at the end of this year, our derogation ends. Unless there’s an action or a vote by the member states to extend of give us another derogation.”
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