Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
517. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the up-to-date position regarding the retention of the Nitrates Derogation from the end of 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71292/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland secured a three year extension of its Nitrates Derogation at a meeting of the EU Nitrates Committee in Brussels on Tuesday 9th December. The associated Implementing Decision will be adopted and published by the European Commission in due course.
The Implementing Decision will set out the conditions which must be adhered to, including the need to conduct assessments under the Habitats Directive along with several additional requirements from 2028 for derogation farmers in Ireland’s four catchments with the greatest gap to target in terms of nitrogen load reduction.
Securing the Nitrates Derogation was a key priority for this Government. A very significant level of work has taken place across Government at both political and official level to get to this point. However it is important to also recognise the work taking place at farm level and across the industry to reduce agriculture's impact on water quality.
We now have to build on that momentum to improve water quality and secure a sustainable future for Irish agriculture. As part of this, my colleague Minister Browne has signed regulations adopting the Sixth Nitrates Action Programme which will be in effect from 1st January 2026. This has further strengthened the protections for water quality introduced under Ireland’s Fifth Nitrates Action Programme.
