Nitrates derogation

Opinion: Heydon's first year sailed through mostly calm waters

Martin Heydon described becoming the Minister for Agriculture as the "dream job" for a Kildare farmer-come-politician. But how has his first year in office been?

NEWS 26 December 2025

Opinion: Heydon's first year sailed through mostly calm waters

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Dempsey at Large: getting the facts straight on nitrates

Dempsey at Large: getting the facts straight on nitrates

VIEWPOINTS 24 December 2025

Editorial: Taoiseach's comments must be clarified

Editorial: Taoiseach's comments must be clarified

VIEWPOINTS 24 December 2025

Pointed message in Taoiseach's rounded comments

Pointed message in Taoiseach's rounded comments

Pointed message in Taoiseach's rounded comments

DEALER 23 December 2025

Independent Ireland to hold anti-Mercosur protest in Athlone

Independent Ireland to hold anti-Mercosur protest in Athlone

Independent Ireland to hold anti-Mercosur protest in Athlone

NEWS 19 December 2025

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IFA calls on Taoiseach to clarify if ‘backroom deal’ was done on Mercosur

IFA calls on Taoiseach to clarify if ‘backroom deal’ was done on Mercosur

The Taoiseach’s comments about the supposed safeguards of Mercosur are 'misguided', according to IFA president Francie Gorman.

NEWS 10 December 2025

Government looking at Mercosur deal ‘in the round’ with nitrates derogation

Government looking at Mercosur deal ‘in the round’ with nitrates derogation

Taoiseach Micheál Martin was speaking in Brussels on Thursday on the Mercosur deal and the nitrates derogation.

NEWS 10 December 2025

Brussels battles coming in threes

Brussels battles coming in threes

The nitrates derogation, Mercosur and CAP. We seem to be coming toward a decisive moment for all three of the biggest issues for Irish farmers.

DEALER 10 December 2025

Next steps for the derogation war

Next steps for the derogation war

Aidan Brennan looks ahead to some of the challenges facing Ireland as it embarks on the plan to retain the derogation after 2028.

NEWS 10 December 2025

Opinion: CAP, not Mercosur or nitrates, will determine viability of farming

Opinion: CAP, not Mercosur or nitrates, will determine viability of farming

Next week's CAP protest is about the brass tacks issue of funding for farmers across the next 10 years, but Micheál Martin and the Irish Government are walking a fine line in Brussels these days.

OPINION 10 December 2025

Derogation reprieve until 2028

Derogation reprieve until 2028

A vote in Brussels on Tuesday has left derogation farmers with certainty on the stocking rate limbo they faced from January.

NEWS 10 December 2025

No time to rest on our laurels

No time to rest on our laurels

Many people can share in the plaudits for retaining the nitrates derogation, but the work to improve water quality must be intensified even further now.

DEALER 10 December 2025

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Irish dairy’s green advantage across the globe

Our success in export markets depends not only on finding new buyers, but on protecting the strong and hard-fought position we occupy on the global stage.

Irish dairy’s green advantage across the globe

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