Environmentalists have criticised a decision to give Ireland another derogation from strict rules in the EU’s nitrates directive.
The European Environment Bureau (EEB) which works in Brussels on behalf of an umbrella of green NGOs, branded the derogation a “thumbs up to yet another free pass”.
The Nitrates Committee gave the go-ahead to Ireland’s sixth extension to its exemption from the water pollution law after months of lobbying.
The Netherlands, which also wants a derogation has so far not been granted one.
“Europe’s water laws exist to protect people’s health and the environment. Instead of creating exemptions that gives agri-industry interests another free pass to pollute with no accountability, the Commission should step up enforcement on the Nitrates Directive and close the yawning gaps in implementation and reporting”, said Sara Johansson, Senior Policy Officer for Water at the EEB.
Ireland and the Netherlands are the two remaining EU countries that benefit from a derogation from the Nitrates Directive, after Denmark announced that they will not re-apply. The current derogation is due to expire at the end of this year.
This derogation allows farmers to apply more manure than is normally allowed. The European Commission has previously accepted that Ireland’s wet climate demands farmers apply extra manure.
But the runoff can pollute rivers and drink water supplies.
The next derogation is expected to include some tighter measures to try to prevent vulnerable water courses.
“The evidence simply did not exist to justify renewing Ireland’s nitrates derogation. Science has shown that water quality is not improving; it’s getting worse”, said Sinéad O’Brien from the Sustainable Water Network (SWAN).
“The current measures under Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme lack a solid evidence base, so they cannot deliver the improvements required by EU law.”
“Our precious water and wildlife suffer” the consequences, she added.
The government said it would work to improve environmental measures along side the next derogation.
The Irish Farmers’ Association has welcomed the three-year extension.