ICOS leads delegation of Co-op leaders to Brussels on Nitrates Concerns
Back l to r : James Doyle (ICOS), Eamonn McEnteggart (ICOS Dairy committee Chairperson), TJ Flanagan (CEO ICOS)
3rd row l to r: ), Ray Barlow (Chairperson, Aurivo Co-op), Pat Clancy (Chairperson Dairygold Co-op), Eamonn Farrell (ICOS), Thomas O Donoghue (Chairperson Norther Cork Creameries),
2nd row l to r: Vincent O’Donovan (Chairperson Carbery group & Bandon Co-op), James Tangney (Chairperson Kerry Co-op), Vannessa Kiely-O’Connor (ICOS board member Teagasc & Bandon Co-op), Niall Matthews (Chairperson Lakeland Dairies Co-op)
Front row l to r: Edward Carr (President ICOS and Chairperson Arrabawn-Tipperary Co-op), Michael McGrath (EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection), John Murphy (Chairperson, Tirlan Co-op)
BRUSSELS, Belgium – Wednesday 16th July, 2025 – ICOS President, Edward Carr is in Brussels today leading a delegation of Ireland’s major dairy co-operatives.
Edward Carr said, “We are in Brussels today to raise our concerns about a number of issues including the future of Ireland’s Nitrates Derogation and the need for a fully funded CAP.”
The ICOS delegation including the Chairs of Tirlán, Dairygold, Lakeland Dairies, Kerry Dairy Ireland, Arrabawn-Tipperary, Carbery, Aurivo and North Cork Creameries. The delegation held meetings with Ireland’s EU Commissioner, Michael McGrath, Irish MEPs and senior officials from the EU Council and Commission.
Following a meeting with the European Commission on the Nitrates Derogation, Edward Carr said, “We held a productive exchange of views with senior officials from the European Commission on the future of Ireland’s nitrates derogation. The delegation expressed our very significant concerns surrounding the proportionality and complexity of introducing new criteria on habitats as part of our derogation application. That said, we were encouraged by the strong recognition there was of our grass-based system and the real progress made on water quality by farm families and co-operatives. The Commission strongly acknowledged that they did not want to drive people away from our grass and land-based model of production.”
Meanwhile, the ICOS delegation took part in a protest organised by European farming and co-operative organisation Copa-Cogeca to highlight concerns around proposed CAP reforms.
“We joined with farmers and co-operative representatives from across Europe in a protest today to highlight our deep concern at proposals to dismantle the two pillar CAP model. A fully funded and dedicated CAP is vital, not only to support family farms but also to address the environmental challenges. Schemes such as TAMS under Pillar 2 are critical to support new investments in farm infrastructure, and we are concerned that moving away from the two-pillar structure will put these vital schemes in jeopardy.”