Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2023
134. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach if he has acted on his recent statement that he would invite EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkievicius to Ireland to discuss the outcome of the recent nitrates derogation decision. [42564/23]
View answerI wrote to the European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkievicius, in September regarding the Irish derogation under the Nitrates Directive.
In my letter, I joined the invitation extended to him by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to visit Ireland in the near future and to meet with us and representatives of the farming sector.
I expressed my view that such a meeting would allow for an informative exchange of views on some of the unique features of the Irish farming sector, on the various ways underway to improve water quality in Ireland, and on the importance of the derogation Ireland enjoys under the Directive being renewed beyond 2025.
I am pleased that the Commission has indicated his intention to accept this invitation and I look forward to his visit.
