The terms and conditions applying to the nitrates derogation have to be “practicable and workable at farm level” Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) leader Denis Drennan told the association’s AGM in Limerick on Friday 28 November.

The proposed three-year extension of the derogation was cautiously welcomed by Drennan. However, he reiterated that the “devil will be in the detail”.

“We want the right measure in the right place, not every measure in every place,” the ICMSA leader said.

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The nitrates derogation, Mercosur trade agreement and milk prices dominated exchanges at the AGM, which celebrated the ICMSA’s 75th year and was addressed by Taoiseach Mícheál Martin and Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon.

The Taoiseach said news that the European Commission was recommending the extension of Ireland’s nitrates derogation was welcome, but he cautioned “that the final text needed to be reviewed and approved by member states”.

The “nitrates issue” had taken up a lot of the Government’s time since the present coalition took office earlier this year, he said.

We have no strong evidence of any campaign being mounted against Mercosur

“We have made progress on this critical issue, but there are challenges – and I don’t want to understate those – and we’ll continue to push for the best outcome possible,” the Taoiseach said.

“We are the only member state seeking an extension – others are watching obviously and there are legal contexts that we have to navigate,” he added.

In terms of the Mercosur deal, Drennan asked if Ireland was “really opposed” to the deal.

“We have no strong evidence of any campaign being mounted against Mercosur,” he said.

The ICMSA leader said the environmental and animal health standards required by Europe “came at a cost”, but these same standards were effectively being “undermined” by Mercosur, he contended.

In response, the Taoiseach admitted to having “real concerns” regarding the trade agreement and was working with “like-minded member states” including France, Italy and Poland to raise these issues at EU level.

“There are fundamental differences between how we produce beef and they [Brazilian farmers] produce beef,” the Taoiseach conceded.

Deforestation

While the rate of deforestation of the Amazon had halved since president Lula da Silva had taken office in Brazil, according to the Taoiseach he said the practice was continuing.

Regarding the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), both the Taoiseach and Minister Heydon insisted that an increase in the proposed EU farm budget was essential.

“Any reduction in the CAP allocation would have real consequences for farm incomes, rural viability, as well as environmental delivery,” he maintained.

“Our position is clear - we do not support and will not support a weakening of the CAP budget.

"The next CAP must be adequately resourced to ensure a fair, stable income for producers and to maintain food security across Europe,” the Taoiseach insisted.

The CAP budget remained “a priority” for the Government, he said.