N derogation bid in trouble
The Directive sets an organic nitrogen limit of 170kg. Only Denmark has achieved a derogation, allowing up to 230kg for farmers with more than 70% of lands under crops with a long growing season.
Here, the Government sought a derogation of up to 250kg, in line with its Sustaining Progress commitment to the farming organisations.
Environment Minister Roche has expressed his disappointment at the EU response to Ireland’s Nitrates Action programme.
He said the Commission’s letter is being considered by his Department and by the Department of Agriculture and Food, and a reply will be issued within the required three months, following consultation with interested parties, including farmers.
The Commission’s rejection of the Action Programme signals a continuation of three years of Nitrates Directive consultations in Ireland, which included a report on 50 submissions from the public to ex-Kerry Group Chief Executive Denis Brosnan, acting as an independent adviser to the Government.
Minister Roche said the Brosnan Report played a key role in achieving consensus.
However, Mr Brosnan recommended a lower derogation target, of 230kg. He said the bottom line in the debate was that water quality would have to improve, and it was prudent to err on the side of caution on implementing the Directive. He warned that in four years time, if Irish water quality figures had not improved, the European Commission could scrap a derogation, refuse future derogations, and seek a six-month storage capacity for most of the country from 2009.
