IFA: Farmers are being burdened with excessive water charges

FARMERS in Ireland are being burdened with unfair and excessive water charges, the Irish Farmers Association has told the European Commission.

IFA Connacht vice president Michael Silke said the Government and civil servants readily blame Brussels for imposing tough decisions

But the commission, following the IFA presentation, agreed to meet with Environment Minister John Gormley to ensure a more equitable water-charging policy exists for farmers.

He said the Petitions Committee chairman Marcin Leivicki and commission officials made it clear that water charging is not required under EU law until 2010.

Mr Silke said Mr Gormley must not be allowed to increase the cost of water to farmers while not charging private households in leafy suburbs and giving reduced water charges to big business.

Sligo IFA county chairman Billy Sommerville thanked European Parliament members Seán Ó’Neachtáin, Kathy Sinnott and Marian Harkin for their “positive contributions” at the EU committee meeting.

“Sligo users have seen the average price of water increase by 250% over the last three years,” he said, pointing out the IFA, with Marian Harkin’s assistance, highlighted these excessive charges are not required under EU law.

Mr Silke said county councillors and TDs must stop hiding behind the cloak of Brussels and put a stop to these excessive charges. Farmers will pay a fair price for water, but they will not subsidise other sectors.

County councils maintain charging farmers is necessary under the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD).

“However, the WFD does not require charging until 2010. It is extremely unfair for these farmers to pay such exorbitant charges when they are already struggling,” Ms Sinnott said.

Ms Sinnot, who is vice president of the Petitions Committee, said the WFD aims to ensure a sufficient supply of high-quality water but there is potential for other more appropriate responses than charges to achieve these aims.

“For this reason, I will be proposing two packages as an alternative which would meet the objectives of the WFD on water quality and supply while helping the Irish agricultural sector.”