Senior inspector at the Department of Agriculture Ted Massey has said that he is confident Ireland can retain the nitrates derogation.

Massey was speaking at an Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) pig meeting in the Killeshin Hotel in Portlaoise on Monday.

While Massey said he believes it's achievable to retain the derogation at 220kg N/ha, he said that it will take time.

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The Department met with the European Commission's nitrates committee on the derogation most recently on 19 September, with another meeting due to take place in December.

"It's for us to continue working with the Commission to give them the assurances they need to have the confidence to put a new implementing decision to a vote of member states.

"It's only when the Commission have the confidence that they'll table a vote. I can't say exactly when that will be," Massey told the packed room of pig farmers who have experienced significant reductions in pig price since July.

Water quality

Massey said that there’s no "getting away" from the fact that agriculture is the most frequent and significant pressure on water quality.

"Agricultural nutrients in many of our waters are too high and we need to retain our nitrates derogation. We also need to improve water quality to meet our regulatory requirements under both the nitrates directive and the water framework directive.

“All farming sectors have a role to play in that regard – improving water quality is an issue for all farmers. Right across the agri-food industry over the last two years we have seen massive engagement, acceptance by farmers that there is a need to do more, a willingness across all sectors.

"It’s that engagement that has got us where we are today in terms of our negotiations with the European Commission regarding the next nitrates derogation," he said.

Maintaining the derogation is a matter for all active farmers and none more so than pig farmers, Massey highlighted.

"The pig sector will be impacted if we fail to maintain our derogation. We want the pig sector to be part of the solution in terms of addressing water quality because if it's not part of the solution it will be seen by others as part of the problem," Massey said.

Slurry value

Slurry, he added, is a valuable resource and something not to be just "disposed of" and its value needs to be maximised, in particular pig slurry.

Ireland needs to reduce its reliance on imported chemical fertiliser and pig slurry has the potential to play a key role in that regard, according to Massey.