Farming: Minister meets European Commissioner to discuss Ireland’s Nitrates Derogation
Commissioner Jessika Roswall and Minister Martin Heydon.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, met with the European Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, to discuss Ireland’s request for continuance of the Nitrates derogation.
Minister Heydon emphasised the importance of the derogation to Ireland during the meeting, which was held in Brussels.
He also issued an invitation to the Commissioner to visit Ireland and view first-hand the collaborative work being done by the agri-food sector on improving water quality.
Following the meeting, Minister Heydon, said: “I very much appreciate the engagement by Commissioner Roswall and the constructive nature of the discussion.
"This meeting follows a visit from senior officials from DG Environment to Ireland last week, which included a visit to a derogation farm in County Meath.”
Following the meeting, Minister Heydon confirmed that Commissioner Roswall will visit Ireland in November.
He stated: “We are looking forward to welcoming Commissioner Roswall for a visit that will provide a further opportunity for engagement in a very practical way.
"Securing an extension to Ireland’s Nitrates Derogation remains a key Government priority. In the time ahead, Government will continue to engage and work constructively with stakeholders at both a national and a European level on the next Nitrates Action Programme and the Nitrates Derogation, to ensure we put forward the strongest case possible to secure its retention post-2025 as well as delivering on improved water quality.”
The Nitrates Derogation is the commonly used term referring to the provision within the Nitrates Directive allowing a scientifically justified higher limit on the application of livestock manure Nitrogen to land. Ireland is seeking permission to continue applying in excess of 170 kg livestock manure Nitrogen per hectare from 2026.
The derogation facilitates, and is considered to be justified by, Ireland’s unique grass-based outdoor livestock production systems, which are based around our high net precipitation, long grass growing season and our ability to produce high-yielding crops of grass that take up and utilise high levels of Nitrogen.
