Agriculture Minister updated farmers on CAP and Nitrates Derogation during Tipperary visit

Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon updated the farming community on the Government’s work at EU level to retain the Nitrates Derogation and secure the best deal for Ireland in the upcoming CAP reform during his whistle-stop visit to south Tipperary last week

More than 150 people attended the mid-morning meeting about water quality and Nitrates Derogation addressed by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine at the Moyle Rovers Sports Complex near Clonmel on Thursday, July 24. 

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The event was organised by the Clonmel Horse & Agricultural Show Committee and was an opportunity for farmers to get the Minister’s insights into the controversial Cap reform proposal and Nitrates Derogation negotiations in Brussels and to put questions to him and air their views.

The meeting began with a series of talks from representatives of State agencies about water quality in our water ways and the measures and schemes in place to reduce agriculture’s impact on water quality.

Presentations were given by Dr Fran Igoe and Ruth Hennessy of the Local Authorities Water Programme, Claire Mooney of Teagasc’s Agricultural Sustainability & Advisory Programme and Declan Cullagh of Inland Fisheries Ireland.

In a lengthy and detailed address to the meeting, Minister Heydon updated farmers on his Department’s negotiations to retain the Nitrates Derogation that allows farming at higher stocking rates subject to meeting extra environmental protection conditions.

Minister Martin Heydon speaking at the Clonmel Show Committee event in Moyle Rovers Sports Complex. Picture John D. Kelly

He said it was challenging in 2022 to secure the derogation but it was probably more challenging now as Ireland was one of the few remaining countries to have derogation.

He highlighted how at the Irish Government’s first meeting in March with the EU in March on Nitrates Derogation they presented evidence of improving water quality trends in Ireland that was significantly contributed to by the efforts of farmers.

He explained how the Government hopes in December to be in a position to put forward to the Commission a proposal to the member states for retention of the derogation.

He said their job was to convince and reassure the Commission that it was “legally justified” and doing the right thing in retaining the derogation and that it was actually helping and supporting farmers to make a positive difference in water quality.

In relation to the latest CAP reform proposals, he acknowledged farmers will have been disappointed by the announcement about proposed cuts to the CAP budget.

However, he saw it as positive that 80% of the current CAP was being ring fenced and described it as a “starting point” for negotiations. “Compared to what it could have been, I feel it’s not a bad starting point,” he said.

Mr Heydon pledged that he was going to fight as hard as he could to protect what Irish farmers have.

The two-hour meeting concluded with a robust questions and answers session with South Tipperary IFA Chairman Pat Carroll and Tirlán Co-op Vice-Chairman Bill Carroll among the contributors.

The event was attended by former Minister of State in the Department of Agriculture Tom Hayes from Golden and prominent current Fine Gael public representatives including Clonmel TD Michael Murphy, Senator Garret Ahearn and councillors from south Tipperary and north Waterford including Tipperary County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr John Carroll (FF). 

At the end of the meeting , Deputy Michael Murphy presented Minister Heydon with a special registration plate 25-T-Liam marking Tipperary’s All-Ireland Senior Hurling final victory.

He thanked the Minister for visiting south Tipperary to engage with farmers on the key challenges facing them.

Ruth Hennessy of the Local Authorities Water Programme giving a presentation at the Clonmel Show Committee meeting on water and Nitrates Derogation. Picture John D. Kelly