• 1 December – deadline for submissions to the public consultation on the Nitrates Action Programme (NAP).
  • 9 December – the next meeting of the European Commission’s nitrates committee. If the Commission tables a proposal to grant Ireland a new derogation, EU member states will vote on the proposal at this meeting.
  • 31 December – Ireland’s current nitrates derogation expires at midnight.

  • 1 January 2026 – the new NAP is to come into effect.
  • March 2026 – the next scheduled meeting of the Commission’s nitrates committee. If no vote is taken on 9 December, it is expected that a decision on the next derogation will be made at this meeting.