Teresa Roche, Loughrea, Co Galway

“It’s a critical time for our farm. We’re a dairy farm in Co Galway, and I’d be particularly concerned for farmers along the western seaboard, where farms are fragmented. It’s crucial we retain the derogation, but the conditions that come with any new derogation are also vital.

“Proposals for cutting nitrogen limits on grazing platforms will have a huge impact on farms where some parcels are not within reach of the parlour. That could decimate small family farms, who often depend on rented land.”

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Conor Wynne, Newbridge, Co Kildare

“I’m here as a young farmer who is working off a leased farm. I’m greatly dependent on the derogation. If the derogation is lost to this country, it would mean that my business would be unfeasible, realistically. I have heightened expenditure due to the leased system. It’s up to the powers that be. The minister needs to prove himself, what he has to say should be taken on board.

“But it’s the EU, we’ve been let down in the past, so it’s to be seen what happens this time.”

Tony Duggan, Cahir, Co Tipperary

“I think the crowd that turned up shows how important this issue is. We have land access issues on our farm already, a proposed solar farm on rental land. There are huge land use pressures already, any change to or loss of the derogation would only add to that. The Habitats Directive is another big grey area hanging over us as farmers. I think the minister knows the gravity of the situation, I hope he does.”

Timmy Lane, Fermoy, Co Cork

“I’m a young mixed drystock farmer- beef and sheep- from just outside Fermoy. That was a good meeting, well-run. I’d be hopeful there’d be a successful outcome, that they’ll keep what we have at the moment.

“If they don’t it’ll be very bad for farming in general I feel; retaining the derogation isn’t just about dairy farmers.”

Catherine Duggan, Cahir, Co Tipperary

“I’m here with my husband Tony and our 14-month-old son Mikey. The derogation is very important to us. Our farm is touch-and-go in terms of viability.

“If the derogation goes, Mikey here won’t be farming, or won’t be milking cows. That’s the way it is. The family farm is ultimately what will be destroyed.

“Others will take up farming, but they won’t be family farms, they’ll be commercial holdings.

“If you’ve a family farming, you’ve tradition, you’ve pride in the land being farmed. If it is taken over by business that might be from a long way away, that pride of parish is gone.”

Kieran McEvoy, Emo, Co Laois

“I’m milking some cows, but I’m principally here as the IFA tillage chair.

“We are fully supportive of the need to retain the nitrates derogation, and support our dairy and drystock colleagues in derogation.

“The knock-on effects of losing the derogation would impact on all farmers; I believe it would be the death-knell for the tillage sector, which is struggling for income and losing land as it is.”