The continuation of Ireland’s nitrates derogation is welcome, necessary, and a direct result of hard work by Irish farmers and political negotiators, MEP Maria Walsh has said.
MEP Walsh, a full member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, has consistently lobbied for the extension of Ireland’s nitrates derogation and has engaged with Commissioner Roswall in Brussels and in Ireland to ensure Irish farmers’ concerns were understood.
Maria Walsh MEP said:
“The extension of Ireland’s derogation is well-deserved and much-needed by Irish farmers. It has come as an early Christmas present for our agricultural sector – but one earned through years of hard work, investments and political negotiations.
“This derogation did not happen by chance; it has been driven by the hard work of Irish farmers and long hours of political negotiations. I am delighted to see the extension delivered by my Fine Gael colleague Minister Martin Heydon who has prioritised this since his first day in the Department of Agriculture.
“While today is a great day for the Irish agricultural sector, it is not a day for complacency. Just as we learned during the Brexit process, we cannot wait until change is upon us – we must prepare now. Farmers deserve long-term clarity, not last-minute uncertainty.
“Preparations for the post-2028 landscape must begin immediately, particularly for farmers most likely to be impacted. This means ensuring farmers in the Slaney, Barrow, Nore and Blackwater catchment areas have a clear pathway for the years ahead – but it also means supporting dairy farmers right across the country to plan, invest, and adapt.
“Our farmers have shown time and again that they can meet high environmental standards when given the tools, timelines, and certainty. Today’s positive news should be a springboard for a national plan that keeps Irish family farms strong, protects water quality, and gives farmers the confidence they need to plan for the future.”