Nolan says rewetting plans an example of “an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object”

INDEPENDENT TD Carol Nolan has said the ongoing controversy surrounding the decision by the European People’s Party to push for the rescinding of two flagship pieces of environmental legislation put forward by European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen is a clear example of “the apparently unstoppable force of the green agenda meeting the immovable object of farmers rights and international food security.”

The Laois Offaly representative went on to say that while she welcomed indications from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue that rewetting would be voluntary and not mandatory, “there was still a long road to travel before such a flexible approach was endorsed at EU level.”

“The writing is on the wall in terms of just how far the proposals made by President von der Leyen can be pushed,” said Deputy Nolan.

“On the one hand, this is a welcome sign in that finally people are waking up to the dangers involved in pursuing such punitive, unrealistic and unworkable targets.

“On the other hand it is also clear that major political groupings across the EU are plainly terrified of the fact that they have awakened a sleeping giant in terms of the rural communities who are most impacted.

“We have to get real about the nature of farming and what is required to deliver genuine and sustainable levels of food security, while maintaining a health and realistic level of environmental ambition,” concluded Deputy Nolan.