Commitment to steer effort to retain nitrates derogation gives confidence to agriculture sector – Lombard

The decision by Taoiseach, Simon Harris to establish and lead a Cabinet Committee on water quality to steer a national effort to retain nitrates derogation is a very positive development, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Tim Lombard, Fine Gael Spokesperson on Agriculture and General Election candidate for Cork South-West said: “This and something I have long called for – a whole of Government approach led by the Taoiseach.

“This time last year I was highly critical of the handling of this by Minister McConalogue.

“While myself and three other members of the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and Marine went to Brussels for a face-to-face meeting with EU Environment Commissioner, Minister McConalogue had a virtual meeting to discuss something of such significance to farmers and rural economies.

“The lack of information and short timelines around the change in derogation from 250kg to 220kg per hectare in some areas was chaotic. We cannot have a repeat of that chaos and that is why I have consistently called for a whole of Government approach to water quality and retaining derogation led by the Taoiseach.

“Retaining derogation is not only about farmers. It’s about our local economies and the reduction in spend which would result. It’s about the milk processing plants which are employers and drivers of the economy in our rural towns and villages.

“The Taoiseach is correct when he says that ‘nitrates derogation is a national asset on which a sector of our economy depends’. This issue is too important to be dealt with via Zoom calls.

“Fine Gael has a track record on listening to and working with farmers. Today’s announcement gives the agricultural sector confidence and the reassurance that the work to retain our derogation will be a national effort and led from the top.”