NITRATES DECISION UNFAIR FOR PIG,POULTRY & MUSHROOM SECTORS SAYS HARKIN

The derogation given to Irish farmers to spread up to 250kg/ha of livestock manure has been welcomed by Independent MEP Marian Harkin.

However she described the refusal of the EU Nitrates Committee to permit any increase in the spreading of pig and poultry manure and mushroom compost as a serious blow especially to producers in Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal.

“What the EU is basically saying is that these producers have until the end of 2010 to adapt to a non-expansion regime which threatens the entire viability of their enterprise”, she said.

“It was interesting to note that in the recent EPA report on ‘Water Quality in Ireland’ in relation to nitrates the Erne at Belturbet was the country’s best performer while on a national basis there has been an increasing trend in the percentage of water samples showing zero contamination”, Marian Harkin said.

The steady improvement in water quality which would be further accelerated by the Nitrates Directive meant that a strong case could be made to the EU to ease restrictions planned for 2010 for the pig, poultry and mushroom sectors, she said.

The pig industry in Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal would be further hit by the closure of the Glanbia factory in Rooskey”, she said.

“This is further evidence of the removal of processing facilities from western areas which will put further pressure on producers”, she said.  There was an urgent need for the Government to make every effort to encourage new enterprise to areas like Rooskey, which were losing jobs which had been the mainstay of their areas for many years, Independent MEP Marian Harkin said.