ICOS President Edward Carr was among the delegation of key stakeholders to welcome EU officials to Ireland in September to highlight Ireland’s collaborative approach to enhancing water quality and supporting the retention of the Nitrates Derogation.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConnalogue had issued the invite following confirmation that Ireland will be seeking an extension of the nitrates derogation beyond January 2026.

Minister McConalogue said: ‘I am really pleased that the European Commission team has responded to my invitation to come to Ireland. The visit provides an important opportunity, not only to increase awareness of our unique grass-based system, but also to get a sense of how farmers, supported by Government and industry, are adopting new practices to improve water quality. I look forward to a very constructive engagement by the officials in Ireland over the coming days’

The importance of maintaining Ireland’s current Nitrates Derogation for both the sector and the wider economy was highlighted during the meetings with EU Commission officials which was led by Humberto Delgado Rosa, Director General for Environment.

Commission officials will also meet with the Agricultural Water Quality Working Group, Farm Representatives, co-op leaders, farmers and other stakeholders, to discuss Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme, with a specific focus on the Nitrates Derogation.

They also visited several farms over the course of 3 days, including the family farm of Cheryl and Alan Poole, near Gorey, Co Wexford, a practical focus on maintaining and enhancing water quality was highlighted as part of Tirlán’s Farming for Water: River Slaney Project aimed at improving the catchment running through Ireland’s south-east. The programme is part of Ireland’s overall Farming for Water EIP and aligned with the Teagasc ‘Better Farming for Water’ programme to deliver and support a science-based knowledge transfer and best practice approach. 

Tirlán’s Chairperson John Murphy emphasised that the good work seen on the Poole’s family farm in County Wexford was reflective of work underway on farms right across the country.

“Tirlán and its farmers remain committed to improving water quality in river catchments as it is the right thing to do for our land and rivers, our families and our communities. Tirlán has invested significant resources to deliver our water quality programmes based on best practice.” Before their return to Brussels, Minister McConalogue also presented the Commission team with copies of the Government’s recently published Water Quality Improvement Plan, which outlines the steps being taken to improve water quality.