Fergus O'Dowd
Question:1331. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to respond to concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39093/23]
View answerMonday, 11 September 2023
Questions (1331)
Written answers
The Nitrates Derogation provides an opportunity for farmers, subject to strict environmental conditions, to maintain a stocking rate in excess of the normal stocking rate limit of 170kg livestock manure nitrogen per hectare.
Last year Ireland secured a Nitrates Derogation covering the period 2022-2025. The European Commission attached increased conditionality to that Derogation, including a requirement to conduct a two-year water quality review. This water quality review was insisted upon by the European Commission to give them the assurance they required to grant that Derogation in light of negative trends in water quality combined with increased livestock numbers and increased fertiliser use when the derogation was being negotiated.
I fully recognise farmers have embraced a lot of actions to improve water quality. I also fully recognise the value derogation farmers, and the associated food processing industry, deliver both directly, and indirectly for the local rural economy. As a result, in March I committed to re-engaging with the Commission to revisit the conditionality around this two-year water quality review. That engagement has been on-going, including direct engagement the European Commissioner Sinkevicius. Last week, in direct conversation with the Commissioner, he confirmed that the Commission would not re-open the Implementing Decision granting Ireland's current derogation.
As a result, based on the outcome of the water quality review, a significant proportion of our derogation farmers will have to move to a maximum stocking rate of 220kg livestock manure nitrogen from 2024.
Ireland is currently one of only three EU Member States availing of a Nitrates Derogation.
I am committed to seeking to retain Ireland's Nitrates Derogation in the period post-2025. To do this we must all work together to improve water quality. With this in mind, earlier this year, I established the Agriculture Water Quality Working Group. Involving the key stakeholders across the agrifood sector, the group is seeking to improve awareness of the impact individual actions can have on water quality, to improve compliance with existing rules and consider what new measures should be introduced to drive improvements in water quality.
I intend to continue working with Minister O'Brien and the stakeholders as we progress the interim review of the Nitrates Action Programme and prepare the case for a Nitrates Derogation post 2025.