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.

In an interview with the Irish Examiner in Seoul, South Korea, Trade and Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney said farmers and many politicians, including him, are looking for flexibility from a time perspective on the introduction to the changes.

Mr Coveney said: “We have the relevant Commissioner coming to Ireland soon, I understand and I think it will be an opportunity then for farming organisations to make their case in relation to the need for as much flexibility as possible while recognising the job that the commissioner has to do as well.” 

Ireland's derogation agreement with the European Commission allowed a minority of more intensively stocked farmers to produce 250kg per hectare.

 However, because of the water quality issues, the limit for Irish derogation farmers will now fall to 220kg per hectare from the first of January. It means around 3,000 farmers affected will have three ways to meet the new, reduced limits on nitrates. 

This includes reducing animal numbers, increasing the amount of land they have, or finding someone to take slurry from their holdings. There have been suggestions up to 41,000 cows could be culled within 10 weeks due to the changes. Mr Coveney said he hopes the changes do not result in a large-scale cull.

He said: “There are other ways in which we can reduce stocking rates on dairy farms and what many farmers have said to me is that what they want is time to be given a bit more flexibility from a time perspective to be able to make those adjustments.” 

What's your view on this issue?

You can tell us here

Although the commissioner is due to visit Ireland, his spokesperson has already ruled out any changes to the planned cut. Speaking in the Dáil last month, the Taoiseach said he would explore any flexibilities that may be possible with the commissioner but did not want to “raise false expectations as to what’s possible and what’s not”.

Mr Coveney also said Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue is very aware of the concerns and pressures that farmers are under to comply with the proposed changes. He said the Government will work with farmers to try and help them. Mr Coveney added: “And of course, what we need in the medium term, because at the end of 2025, our nitrates derogation is up for review in its entirety, and the most important thing is that we hold on to the derogation in the medium term and that we try to to get as much flexibility and as much support for dairy farmers that have to make changes in the short term as we can.”