‘Very strong signals’ on possibility of nitrates delay coming from Commission

The ICMSA president, Pat McCormack, has said that it seems that “very strong signals” are being sent to the Irish Government indicating that a delay or deferment to the reduction to 220kg N is possible in the event of a reasonable case being made to the Commission.

Mr McCormack said it was now vital for the Government to grasp with both hands this opportunity and approach the Commission with a proposal for the longest delay possible, he said.

“ICMSA and others within the wider Irish agri-community are now aware of a willingness on the part of the Commission to entertain requests for a delay to the reduction to 220 kgs N. The reports coming from Brussels seem well-founded and it’s now a question of our Government moving speedily to push what looks very like an ‘open door’ in terms of a delay to the reduction.

“That will at least give breathing space to some 3,000 farm families directly affected by what was an unfair and baseless decision. The question then becomes political and we should ‘cut to the chase’ here; it is up to those elements within the Cabinet and Government who can see this question ‘in the round’ and without any ideological blinkers to insist that Ireland moves immediately to follow through on any possibility of a delay on the part of the Commission.

“That may mean bluntly telling certain ministers that the national interest demands that Ireland seeks and secure any reasonable delay or deferments that the Commission can be persuaded to grant – and ICMSA wants the longest delay possible. That’s certainly what we’ll be telling the Taoiseach and Minister McConalogue – and very specifically Minister Ryan – at our AGM next Friday, 17 November.”

The ICMSA president also insisted that what he called “other alleviating measures” such as N exemptions for young calves, the impact of reduced protean content in feeds, and N content of export slurry are even more critical to the future of the Irish family farm system.