Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine to meet with Minister McConalogue regarding Ireland’s Water Quality and Nitrates Derogation

Ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Jackie Cahill said: “The Committee welcomes this opportunity to meet with Minister McConalogue to discuss water quality and the decision by the European Commission not to revisit the nitrates directive derogation at 250kg per hectare.

“Members of this Committee, myself included, were in Brussels last week where we met with officials on Forestry and Land Restoration. We were extremely disappointed that the Environment Commissioner took the decision to reduce from 250kg to 220kg per hectare.

“Farmers, because of last year’s awarding of the derogation, took 31 different measures in order to qualify for the derogation. It is extremely disappointing that the Commission haven’t given these various and detailed conditions in relation to the nitrates derogation time to make an impact on water quality.

“That is what farmers are failing to understand in relation to this decision. There were very extensive conditions attached to the derogation last year to ensure water quality is protected and improved, but these conditions have not been given time to set in and see their impacts.

“The Committee is of the view that the Commission should review the decision on this basis, to allow these actions time to see if they will have a positive impact. We will be urging the Minister to take this into account during his discussion with the Commission and we hope that the huge efforts undertaken in relation to water quality by Irish farmers will be recognised by the Commission, so that our 250kg derogation could be reinstated.”

The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.