Farmers will rise to the challenge
ENVIRONMENT Minister Dick Roche says he understands the fears of some farmers regarding the nitrates directive.
"Nonetheless, I consider that the farming community will rise to the challenge of the programme," he said.
Minister Roche was confirming that a formal reply has been sent to the European Commission by his Department in relation to Ireland's nitrates action programme.
Details of the revised proposals will be released shortly after their formal receipt in Brussels by the Commission.
Ireland had formally submitted a programme in October of last year. But the Commission considered it fell short of the requirements of the nitrates directive, and informed the Government of this view in December.
Following a series of discussions with the Commission, the Government intends to revise the programme, and informed Brussels last week of its revised proposals.
But there has been a hostile reaction from the farm lobby to the action plan being presented to Brussels for approval.
However, Minister Roche said a lot of hard work has gone into resolving issues regarding the directive.
The initial programme was devised following input from his Department, the Department of Agriculture and Food, Teagasc and from farming and other interests. This process was ably facilitated by Denis Brosnan.
"I consider that the refinements, which are now being made to the original programme, will provide an acceptable compromise which will bring about the required environmental improvements while protecting farmers' legitimate interests," he said.
Minister Roche said there has been significant improvement in recent years in the environmental management of farming.
"The issue of mountain overgrazing has largely been dealt with. There has been a significant decrease in the use of artificial fertilisers over the recent years. More and more farmers are joining the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme with consequent benefits for the Irish countryside.
"The issue of eutrophication of our waters from agricultural sources can now also be tackled in a planned and strategic manner to the benefit of all who live in rural Ireland," he said.
Minister Roche thanked the Commission for its patience in allowing Ireland space to develop its nitrates programme.
"The Commission has a job to do in ensuring that European directives are properly implemented across all member states.
"It is clear that in this instance Ireland had fallen out of step with our requirements and that we could not afford to postpone the full implementation of the nitrates directive any further.
"I appreciate the positive engagement of the Commission in trying to resolve the issues of difference between us," he said.
ICMSA Farm Services and Environment Committee chairperson, Conor Creedon has, meanwhile, called on Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan to immediately increase the farm waste management grant rate up to 60% in non-disadvantaged areas and 75% in disadvantaged areas.
He said the amendments to the action plan, put forward by Minister Roche, have added two weeks additional storage, on top of the proposals put forward by Denis Brosnan in October of last year, to 11 counties in Ireland.
Many farmers will be required under this new plan to build additional facilities to hold an extra two weeks storage that's completely surplus to requirements.
Their counterparts in Donegal appear to have come off worst - they are required to add six weeks storage on top of the Brosnan proposals.
"ICMSA have estimated that an extra four weeks storage, which will be required from most Irish farmers under the nitrates action plan, will cost in the region of €1.6 billion," he said.
