Today’s vote by the European Nitrates Committee to approve an extension of Ireland’s nitrates derogation for another three years is a bad day for Irish waterbodies and for everyone who relies on clean quality water in Ireland.  

The derogation provides an exemption from the full implementation of the Nitrates Directive, an important and necessary EU measure to protect the pollution of rivers and lakes by the seepage of nitrates from overstocked farmland. 

The EPA has long highlighted the dire state of Irish water quality, with recent data demonstrating that half of Irish rivers and 2/3 of estuaries are polluted. Agricultural nitrogen is a major source of this pollution, resulting from animal manure, slurry and fertiliser.   

An Taisce has consistently called on the European Commission to remove the derogation from Ireland which is now the only European state relying on a derogation. Instead, Ireland has been given an extension of the derogation, with business-as-usual set to continue for three full years before any additional environmental assessments kick in. 

Dr Elaine McGoff, Head of Advocacy with An Taisce said: 

“This derogation decision is actually shocking. Decisions like this are meant to be based on the science, but the evidence clearly shows Ireland has serious water pollution problem that isn’t getting any better caused largely by agricultural nitrogen. Recent EPA data on water quality is unambiguous. We are going backwards. There are fewer waterbodies at good ecological status now than there were three years ago. Simply put, those with responsibility in Ireland have not been holding up our end of the bargain and just keep pushing out the day of reckoning. 

The reality is the Irish State has an abysmal track record of failure in protecting Irish waterways from agricultural pollution, despite a whole body of legislation requiring them to do so. The data would suggest that the existing derogation has actually led to added pollution, and we see no evidence from Government to counter this.  

The public is now fed up with this with a recent Ireland Thinks poll indicating that the Irish people overwhelmingly want clean, healthy water, with the majority now not in favour of Ireland seeking another derogation. 

I think it’s valid to question if this is this decision is even good for derogation farmers who, in three years’ time, will once again find themselves on this economic cliff edge, wholly dependent on the European Commission granting Ireland a derogation. This is a very risky business model, particularly given the current state of our water quality in Ireland. In their derogation decision, the European Commission seem to be very clearly indicating that this derogation is on borrowed time. 

An Taisce has long called on successive governments to put in place contingency plans to deal with a potential loss or major amendment to the nitrates derogation. We once again call on the Irish Government to show leadership, and to take this next 3 years to now put in a place a plan to transition farmers away from relying on a derogation.  

How many more Lady's Island Lakes do we need to see in Ireland before we chart a better way forward for Irish waters, and to help Irish farmers transition to a more sustainable and resilient future?”