The Cabinet yesterday discussed the implementation of the Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NZV) issue, under which severe curbs will be placed on the spreading of manure and other fertilisers to comply with European regulations.
Ireland is the only EU country which has not dealt with the issue under the Nitrates Directive of 1992 and preliminary legal moves have been made by the Commission to punish Ireland for its failure to comply with EU environmental laws.
Yesterday, the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, reported to the Cabinet on the matter, which also heard from the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh.
The imposition of the controls will impact heavily on Ireland's commercial farmers who have been applying pressure on the Government in the run-up to the election. On Tuesday Mr Walsh told farmers the matter would be dealt with by the Government within a matter of weeks. He said failure to comply with the regulations could put farm support payments at risk as all EU schemes must be cost-compliant.
The farm organisations say that 40,000 farmers will face serious challenges when the NVZs are introduced and that the move represents a serious challenge to commercial farming.
The new IFA president, Mr John Dillon, has rejected assertions that farmers are responsible for damaging water quality.