German MEP supports Irish nitrates derogation after visiting dairy farms

Berlin (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – German MEP Ciaran Mullooly pledged to sustain Irish farmers’ drive to retain their nitrates derogation – after visiting two intensive dairy ranches in Co Longford.

A German dairy farmer and MEP, who is a member of the EU Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture, had “pledged to support” Ireland’s nitrates derogation. That’s according to Irish MEP Ciaran Mullooly, who invited his German colleague Christine Singer to visit two Irish dairy farms in Co. Longford this past weekend.

Bavaria-based MEP Singer received the invitation from Mullooly to “come and see for herself the potential harm that losing the derogation could drive to the grass-based enterprise”.

Mullooly said he plans to commit with other MEPs over the next 12 months to drum up backing for Ireland’s nitrates derogation.

How Did German MEPs Respond to Ireland’s Nitrates Derogation Concerns?

As part of that, he stated that he would brief members of the parliament’s agriculture committee – of which he is also a member – on the extent of the derogation for Irish farmers. Mullooly and Singer visited the ranches of Ann and John Sheridan near Edgeworthstown, and Joe, Barbara and Cathal McGreal in Ballinalee. Local and regional spokespeople of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) were also in attendance.

Mullooly remarked: “It is clear by the level of investment on both farms that they are very much committed to assuming new farming practices to enhance the environment. With the growth in clover in Irish grass and both the use of shielded urea and new direct slurry injection, our farmers are doing more than their fair share of the work to manage the challenge ahead.

What Role Does the European Parliament Play in Supporting Nitrates Derogation?

Although the European Parliament does not directly influence the decision to grant a derogation, the parliament, and its committees, can bring matters to the attention of the European Commission and other member states, which do determine the granting of the nitrates derogation.

“We know the European Parliament will not resolve this matter so we must all work together to ensure that the commissioners are pushed abundantly aware of the importance of the derogation to our farmers,” the Independent Ireland MEP stated. Visits like this week are hugely influential in getting the message to our colleagues in the other members states,” he said.

Mullooly also thanked the Sheridan and McGreal families for permitting the visits to their farms.

“The two enterprises deeply engraved all and made a valuable impact on showing the position clearly already being done by progressive Irish farmers,” he stated.