Laois General Election candidates warned derogation will devastate and cost county millions

Aspiring Laois TDs were left in no doubt that retaining Ireland's derogation from the EU Nitrates Directive is the top issue for local farmers voting in this General Election.

They were told that its loss would have a hugely detrimental impact on the economy of Laois because of the value of agriculture to the county.

Micheal Bergin backed up the argument to retain the derogation with figures at the Laois IFA General Election hustings in the Killeshin Hotel last week which was covered by the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

“Last year Tirlán paid almost €2 billion to dairy farmers for milk and the Laois share of that was €163 m. Just to put it into farmer context. If you were to divide that between all the farmers in Laois, it would equate to €65,000 each.

“A third of that income is retained by the person who milks the cows but the other two-thirds percolates into the wider economy to support the services that farmers require for production. It creates jobs and sustains jobs in the county,” he said.

Mr Bergin said a significant number of the Tirlán employees at its plant in Ballyragget are from Laois. He said all of this is under threat from the loss of the derogation.

“58% of all the milk that goes into Tirlán comes from derogation farmers,” he said.
He said the scale of the income earned from milk as compared to schemes like ACRES puts into perspective the importance of dairy.

“We are very very worried about the future if we lose derogation,” he said.

David Fennelly farms in Emo. He said he does not expect water quality results to improve in 2024 due to the wet year.

“We know that the loss of the derogation from an economic point of view will be devastating for the whole agricultural sector,” he said.

He said farmers know from the agricultural catchments programme that there is no correlation to the farm stocking rate and the contribution of water. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

He said the loss of the nitrate review represents economic cost with no environmental gain for the country.

“It might do something for the climate action targets but it will not solve one bit of the water quality issue,” he said.

Mr Fennelly made a suggestion to the candidates.

“Farmers and politicians need a full economic and environmental analysis by Teagasc on the nitrates going into next year. We don't fully know what it is going to cost farming as a whole, sectors or the counties,” he said.

From an environmental point of view, he believes it could be counterproductive.

“It could have a worse impact on water quality because you will probably see farmers change their systems to higher inputs or high nature land could be brought into production,” he said.

Laois IFA Chairman Burns also spoke on the issue he said some farmers feel it does not impact them but he was adamant that it will affect all farmers.

“It will damage the dairy farming definitely but the dairy farmer will try to resolve that by renting more land but the land is not available for rent,” he said.

Mr Burns added that in 2008 €1 billion was invested by the Irish Government when the Derogation was first introduced.

“We spent €1 billion then as farmers and a further €4 billion has been spent since on farms but we are not seeing the improvement in water quality and we have to be worried.

“You couldn't overestimate the importance of this to Laois,” he said.
While the fate of derogation is in the hands of the EU, farmers believe TDs from Laois must work at every level to lobby to prevent its loss.

The candidates were unanimous in the efforts to protect the derogation.

Maria McCormack of Sinn Féin replied first from the panel of seven General Election candidates to attend.

“We (Sinn Féin) are going protect derogation at all costs. The future of Irish agriculture depends on it,” she said.

Independent candidate Brian Stanley said the view in Dublin was that water quality will be solved if derogation is given. He said there would be a domino impact if it is lost. He also believes that Teagasc should be enlisted.

“We have to retain what we have,” he said.

Fianna Fáil candidate Seán Fleming said his party rejects the view that a strong agri- food sector is inconsistent with water quality.

“We will be strongly making the case that due to the farming system here, due to grass-based and soil type, it is different from other countries,” he said.

He said Fianna Fáil is promising a scheme for individual farmers who want to enter an agricultural support scheme. He said there will also be a water quality investment scheme if elected.

Cllr Willie Aird said he is concerned both as a farmer and public representative.

“I get a knot in my stomach about derogation. It is very delicate and we are all very nervous,” he said.

The Fine Gael candidate called for scrutiny in other areas where water quality is impacted by waste. He said questions need to be asked about the impact of new housing and infrastructure on water courses.

“I think we are scapegoats in all of this. We are very easy to blame. Governments have to stand up on this,” he said.

The other candidates present all supported the farmers.

Pauline Flanagan, Independent, said the accepted narrative that blames farmers needs to be corrected. Austin Stack, Fianna Fáil, said farmers have not got the message across that they are balancing the work. Jason Lynch, Independent, said they had learned a lot from listening to the debate.