N derogation to widen REPS scope
“When the smoke clears on the nitrates directive, and we can secure a system of derogations for farmers above the level of 170 kg of organic nitrogen, we will go back to the Commission and ask that those farmers be made eligible for the REPS programme”, said Michael O’Donovan of the Department of Agriculture and Food during a recent presentation, on REPS 3, to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food.
He said EU Commissioner Fischler had indicated that once Ireland’s derogations are in place, “that type of proposal will be favourably considered.”
