The political engagement followed a visit by Commissioner Roswall, the EU Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, who came to Ireland to personally assess the progress made in relation to sustainability and water quality. While acknowledging the “very important work” that had been accomplished by Irish farmers, her key message was clear: this work “still needs to continue,” reiterating that “A lot has been done, more needs to be done.”

Minister Heydon noted that the Commissioner’s one-day visit provided her with an opportunity to see the “great work that happens here with our farmers” firsthand. He stressed that securing an extension of the nitrates derogation beyond the end of this year has been his “number one priority” since he became Minister in January. Heydon articulated that the complexity of the issue lies in the conditionality of any agreement, as the specific details are what truly matter for practical operation on the farm level.

Concurrently, the chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food, Aindrias Moynihan, also stressed the vital importance of the derogation, particularly to family farms. Deputy Moynihan highlighted to Commissioner Roswall the “unique” nature of Ireland’s grass-based industry and the “huge effort” farmers have made to improve water quality, the results of which are now following through. He aimed to counter the perception that derogation-receiving farms are “very large factory farms,” affirming that the reality is that most are family-run operations producing top-quality products in an environmentally superior way to much of Europe.