Ní Mhurchú says politicians, farmers, and industry need to come together even more to work hard over the coming 6 months to secure Ireland’s nitrates derogation at EU level.
With less than six months until a decision is made on Ireland’s Nitrates Derogation, Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú has called for cross party and cross group action at EU level to fight to retain Ireland’s derogation. Ní Mhurchú says that we have to communicate the message clearly to the EU Commission that Ireland has taken effective steps to improve water quality over the past two years and that the Irish farming community have led significant improvements in water quality, yielding positive results and clearly indicating that more time is needed to allow for further positive results.
Ní Mhurchú made her comments as she attended ‘Farming for the Future’, an open farm walk and talk on Séamus Brennan’s farm at Attanagh, Co Laois, on Monday, June 23 organised by Tirlán.
According to Ní Mhurchú,
“Farmers , not just dairy farmers, have been instrumental in improving water quality over the past 12 months by improving farm practices. Farmers understand the implications of poor water quality for Ireland”
Ní Mhurchú called for increased funding for measures including the Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP) Project. This scheme funds new measures on farms to improve water quality in priority areas nationally and directly aids farmers with advice, support and resources to improve water quality on their farm.
This EIP, a partnership between Teagasc, Dairy Industry Ireland, and the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) secured funding for a groundbreaking Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP) Project for Ireland in 2023.
The hugely successful EIP includes farm action planning which helps farmers to identify and target areas where action is required to reduce sediment, nutrient and /or pesticide loss to water. It also helps farmers with rainwater management plans, and gives paid training to farmers on water quality management.
According to Ní Mhurchú politicians, farmers, and industry need to come together even more to work hard over the coming 6 months to secure Ireland’s nitrates derogation at EU level. She said, more importantly, we need to effectively communicate our success in improving water quality to the EU Commission and to EU officials in Brussels.
ENDS:
