Government committee to tackle water quality in bid to renew nitrates derogation
Farmers throughout the country are already engaged in action to mitigate the impact of agriculture on water quality.
The attempt to renew Ireland's nitrates derogation begins with a presentation by the Government to the European Commission's nitrates committee this month.
Further Irish presentations must follow at the EU nitrates committee quarterly meetings in June and September before a vote can go ahead at the December meeting.
A vote is permitted only when the commission is satisfied that Ireland's sixth nitrates action programme, demonstrating improvements in water quality, has been given to the nitrates committee and the commission is satisfied with the proposed derogation.
The sixth nitrates action programme must be in place before the member state vote at the nitrates committee can grant a derogation.
The process began when Ireland signalled its intention to seek a renewal of its nitrates derogation at the European Commission's nitrates committee meeting on December 12, 2024.
The EU's water framework directive requires that each member state implement a new nitrates action programme every four years. Ireland is currently on the fifth nitrates action programme, and this will expire in December of this year.
The Government will work with stakeholders, including through the agricultural water quality working group, to develop Ireland's sixth nitrates action programme for January 2026 to December 2029.
Once approved, that programme will then be subject to a strategic environmental assessment, an appropriate assessment, and public consultation, before finalising the submission for the commission.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin outlined the nitrates action programme and derogation processes in the Dáil, answering TDs' questions on the new Cabinet committee on water quality.
The Cabinet committee — which will co-ordinate water quality improvements across all sectors — will comprise of the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and minister for foreign affairs and for defence; the ministers for finance; public expenditure; national development plan delivery and reform; agriculture, food, and the marine; housing, local government, and heritage, and the minister for social protection and rural and community development.
It is intended that the Cabinet committee will provide a focus to drive the improvement in water quality generally, while ensuring efforts are undertaken in partnership with farmers.
"It will be important to safeguard the economic contribution farmers are making in the areas most affected by the derogation, as well to implement workable solutions to lower the agricultural impact on water quality," said the Taoiseach last week, adding that the committee would shortly meet for the first time.
A reformed structure of Cabinet committees is part of the programme for government 2025 for policy development and oversight.
The Taoiseach said improvement of water quality requires concerted effort, with Environmental Protection Agency data for 2023 showing that water quality improved in some areas, but is a matter of ongoing concern.
The , which the Government published last year, aims to have an additional 300 water bodies achieve a status of "good" by 2027, with targeted measures to improve more than 500 more.
It includes a multi-billion euro investment in wastewater infrastructure, strengthened action on nitrates, and a focus on compliance and enforcement.The community water development fund for 2025 will also provide financial supports to local projects and initiatives.
The Government also published its water and agriculture collaborative approach plan of measures, addressing the twin objectives of improving water quality and building a convincing case for the maintenance of Ireland's derogation from certain aspects of the EU's nitrates directive.
"Ireland's water faces a number of pressures, including from agriculture, forestry, land use change and wastewater treatment," said the Taoiseach.
Meanwhile, agriculture minister Martin Heydon has said the Government will do everything in its power to retain the nitrates derogation.
"I am confident, however, that the unprecedented engagement across the entire agri-food industry between my department, farm bodies, industry, and State agencies will all help drive improvements in our water data," he said.
"Farmers throughout the country are already engaged in action to mitigate the impact of agriculture on water quality.
"The most recently published Environmental Protection Agency data shows significantly reduced nitrates concentrations in our rivers in the first half of last year. We need to see the same levels of commitment across all sectors, including wastewater treatment.
"In the coming weeks, a Cabinet committee on water quality — chaired by the Taoiseach — will sit for the first time. This will bring a whole of government approach to these issues and ensure farmers are not left to shoulder the burden alone," said Mr Heydon.
