Varadkar intervenes in nitrates dispute

Taoiseach tells farmers he will ask the EU Commissioner to meet with the Agriculture Minister and a delegation from the sector

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told farmers he will write to EU Commissioner Virginijus Sinkeviciu seeking to set up the meeting about nitrates derogation. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has intervened in a dispute between farmers and the Government over the recent announcement by the European Commission to cut Ireland’s nitrates derogation.

Mr Varadkar informed farmers that he will write to EU Commissioner Virginijus Sinkeviciu, inviting him to Ireland to meet with him and Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue as well as a delegation from the sector, or for the Commissioner to meet with sector representatives in Brussels.

It comes just hours after Mr McConalogue told the Oireachtas agriculture committee that he is not going back to Brussels to reopen discussions on the nitrates derogation limits cut.

However, the door appears to now have “reopened” following a meeting between the Taoiseach, Trade Minister Simon Coveney, junior agriculture minister Martin Heydon, and farming representative groups in Limerick where the Fine Gael parliamentary party is holding its think-in.

Members of the IFA delegation — Sean Lavery, Paul O'Brien, Kevin Commiskey, Michael Biggins, Brendan Golden, and Damien McDonald — who met Leo Varadkar and ministers during the Fine Gael think-in in Limerick. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

Farmers had been protesting all morning outside the Strand Hotel in Limerick where the think-in is being held. It’s understood a female farmer told the Taoiseach how the cut in derogation could have a financial impact of thousands of euros a year.

Following the meeting, the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) said Mr Varadkar was clear that he understood the “massive impact” that any cut in the nitrates derogation would have on farmers and the wider sector.

They said Mr Varadkar also acknowledged the real challenges that payment delays would cause for farmers and Mr Heydon said if there is any possibility to get the payments out sooner than the delayed dates, it would be done.

“He also committed to reverting back to the original payment dates for 2024,” the IFA said.

The delegation also raised the conditions of the recently-announced beef welfare scheme, which have annoyed farmers, and the need to increase supports for sheep and livestock farmers.

Mr McConalogue said the European Commission was clear there is no possibility to reopen and renegotiate the derogation and that Ireland must work within the existing terms.

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Ireland’s current derogation is due to expire on January 1, 2026, with the derogation limit due to reduce to 220kg/ha from 250kg/ha on January 1, 2024, in certain areas.

Thousands of dairy farmers will be forced to reduce their herd sizes within the next four months or spend hundreds of thousands scrambling to secure additional land to comply with the new rules, which are set to change on January 1.