IFA members to picket at meeting arranged by Charlie McConalogue
McConalogue, the Minister for Agriculture, has scheduled a meeting to discuss changes to EU nitrogen limits and also delays to farm payments.
The Irish Farmers’ Association will not engage in a meeting arranged by Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue this morning.
Minister for Agriculture and Donegal TD McConalogue scheduled the meeting to discuss changes to EU nitrogen limits and also delays to farm payments.
The IFA President, Tim Cullinan, has said that the time for talking has passed.
Mr Cullinan said: "The statement by the minister in relation to cuts in the Nitrates Derogation, following an online meeting with the EU Commissioner, has further angered farmers.
"It is a flawed decision and it must be revisited.
"Derogation farmers have already implemented 30 measures on their farms, but these are not being given a chance to work."
IFA members will picket outside the meeting in Pokrtlaoise.
On Wednesday, the EU Commissioner for the Environment Virginijus Sinkevicius confirmed there was ‘no prospect’ of re-opening the current Commission decision on Ireland’s limits.
The cut will reduce the nitrates derogation limit from 250kg of organic nitrogen per hectare to 220kg per hectare.
Farmer groups are warning that it could result in farms cutting livestock numbers or trying to access more land.