Govt Must Deliver Workable Nitrates Derogation and Strong CAP – IFA Deputy President at the Virginia Show

Speaking at the Virginia Show in Cavan today, IFA Deputy President Alice Doyle said securing a workable nitrates derogation and strong CAP for farmers must be major priorities for the Government.

“Farmers have worked tirelessly to improve water quality and have adopted sustainability measures which will serve further improvements. But farmers need to be provided with certainty, and most importantly clarity on retaining the nitrates derogation,” she said.

“The recent issue regarding the habitats directive has served to further frustrate and confuse farmers on the current position of our nitrates derogation.”

“IFA made it clear to the Minister last month that we need far more clarity on this aspect of the Government’s plan, which farmers see as moving the goalposts,” she added.

Alice Doyle said CAP remains absolutely vital to the future of Irish farming, and the proposed CAP reforms announced by the EU Commission last month cannot be allowed to become reality.

Alice Doyle said recent IFA analysis shows that in the counties of Cavan, Leitrim, Longford, Meath, Monaghan and Westmeath, CAP payments of €321m were received in 2024, playing a pivotal role in the rural economy of the Ulster/North Leinster region.

“The Government will have to lead a strong push in Brussels to focus the debate around food production and the two-pillar approach” she said.

“Here at the Virginia Show, we see the importance of farming to the region with best of what Irish agriculture has to offer being put on display. It is vital we are able to maintain this, and the formation of the next CAP is pivotal to being able to do so,” she said.

“The importance of food security is not being grasped seriously by wider society. Farmers can see the risks, the next generation are not returning to farming, and that will continue to have a negative effect on food production and people are beginning to see the effects of falling output with rising prices,” Alice Doyle said.