Nitrates Derogation: Statements Seanad Éireann — 2026-01-28 ============================================================ Martin Heydon (FG), Kildare South I thank all the Senators for their very valuable input, their talking points and their thanks and recognition. This was very much a team effort. I recognise the collaboration that has taken place. Senator Paul Daly talked about the role of farmers and also the role of industry. There has been a very collaborative approach here. Farmers have worked hand in glove with my Department and our officials, and the industry has stepped up to the plate and played its part. I will touch on how it is doing that on an ongoing basis. I am satisfied with what I have seen. There was a recognition in all the contributions that while we have had huge uncertainty in the past, we have a golden opportunity during the next three years. There will be no excuses and all farmers will be completely focused on building on the good work of the past. Industry is now more plugged in and supportive. Senator Kennelly talked about Kerry and different co-ops across the way. Across every sector, industry is stepping up. We recognise that this is a critical part of their business model to support our farms in this endeavour. They are working with the Government. The ASSAP programme is an example where the Government is funding some of the ASSAP advisers. Industry is funding some as well. That type of collaboration means that, working together, we can achieve so much more. I also want to recognise the amazing team of officials in my Department. They are extremely committed public servants who have represented our cause at home and in Brussels in a great way. I talked a lot last year about the committee in Brussels. That committee has representatives of each of the 27 member states, including our own. Importantly, it is made up of technical experts representing each of the member states. There has been a lot of loose talk about the derogation as though it is a tradeable commodity. That is why I wanted to stress the point of the golden opportunity our farmers have. When people talk about the derogation as something that was given and can be taken away, without any reference to the science or technical nature, it completely undermines the committee that granted the decision to give this to us. Ultimately, the Commission has to work with us. It has to put forward the proposal and sign off on the implementing decision. The committee that made this decision comprised 27 technical experts from 27 member states. This was based on water quality and our commitments around the habitats directive. Therefore, what we do in the next three years based on science really matters. All of us are working together in that regard. I want to go through the points that have been raised. Senator Lynch made very good points. She talked about Timoleague and the catchment programme. I visited it myself last summer. She talked about generational renewal. I probably could not give a better example. When we talk about generation renewal and it comes up at budget time or in different discussions, it comes up in the context of something having been done and the question as to what is going to be done about generational renewal. The Senator's point is correct. We are making efforts on generational renewal include our efforts on the nitrates derogation, my reform of our approach to TB and addressing the payment issues around ACRES. Every single one of those measures has the potential to instil confidence for the next generation and to help them recognise there is a more stable future in farming. Young farmers on derogation farms are more confident now that they can see a roadmap ahead and beyond 2028 whereby, if they meet these requirements, they have a good chance of having that bit of stability. In Timoleague last summer, I met a number of young farmers with a sense of hopelessness. Once the letter about the habitats directive came out, they had a strong sense of upset that this had been a challenge for them. This is a key part of our approach on generational renewal. Senator Lynch made a point about agriculture not being the sole pressure on water quality. The Government recognises that. When we drew up the programme for Government, for which I was part of the negotiating team, we incorporated that commitment that had been made by the previous Taoiseach, Deputy Simon Harris, at the time to establish a subcommittee of the Cabinet on water quality. We know how powerful Cabinet subcommittees are for issues that cross over more than one Department. It is chaired by the Taoiseach of the day, Deputy Micheál Martin. We have had a number of meeting of the Cabinet subcommittee on water, which I attend, as well as some of my senior officials, addressing the work and the progress on the area of agriculture. Also in attendance is the Minister, Deputy Browne, representing what his Department is doing in the area of water quality. Other attendees have included the EPA and Uisce Éireann because water quality is a green jersey issue. Farmers are doing their bit, but for us to be in the best position possible, we have to take this with a whole-of-government approach and a national approach whereby every arm of the State that has a role to play is held to account. I am happy that the Cabinet subcommittee on water is a big addition to this Government and to our efforts to improve water quality. I note the Senator's points also in relation to TAMS and slurry storage and the efforts we have made in that regard. I thank Senator Boyhan for the points he made. Our heart goes out to the people of Wexford, in particular, right now. He referenced the floods at the Slaney and the awful stressful time they are going through. I am aware of further weather warnings for tomorrow. It is a very worrying time for everyone as our ground is saturated and our rivers are at bursting point. The Senator made that very point I have just made around the technical committee and the extension based on science and conditions, stating that the next outcomes are really important. He also talked about the incentives. I want to touch on what some of our farmers are doing already. A total of 2,500 farmers have already completed their AgNav assessments in one-to-one settings with their advisers. Our aim is to publish all habitats assessments together in quarter 1 of 2028. This was a point raised by Senator Daly, who expressed a concern about that. We have to get this approach right. We are still drawing up the finer details of our exact approach on the habitats. We will publish that and engage on it very soon. I do not want people being picked apart on this as well. I take on board the point of view, but there is a balance here in how we do this. Everyone needs to be treated equally and fairly. That is really important. I take on board the points the Senator raised. --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-01-28/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:33+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-01-28