EU commissioner to be asked for 'flexibility' on nitrates derogation

There have been suggestions up to 41,000 cows could be culled within 10 weeks due to the changes.

An EU Commissioner will be asked to give Irish farmers “flexibility” to make adjustments to a decision to cut the country’s nitrates derogation when he arrives here within two weeks.

Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius is traveling to Ireland on foot on an invitation from the Taoiseach following backlash from farming groups over the commission’s decision to make changes to Ireland’s nitrates derogation rules.