Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak to this motion on what is an extremely important law, the nature restoration law proposed by the European Commission. This is the most substantial nature legislation that has been put forward by the EU in decades and it comes as a result of the environmental crisis we have been facing and will continue to face for years to come. Because this legislation is so important, it is vital that the information presented today is correct, factual and in the best interests of all involved. The future of our environment involves every single one of us and it is for this reason that my aim today is to counteract the scaremongering and misinformation with verified information and scientific fact, as well as the realities faced by the farming community.

The report of the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss, published in March of this year, found that over a quarter of Ireland’s regularly occurring bird species are in danger of extinction, at least one third of protected species are declining in population, almost 30% of our semi-natural grasslands have been lost in the last decade, less than half of our marine environment can be described as healthy, over 70% of our peatlands have a bad status and only a small fragment remains intact, the majority of our agricultural soil is in a suboptimal state, contaminated by nitrates and phosphates, and we are consistently losing our hedgerows. In addition, our water quality is continuing to decline, with almost 50% of freshwater systems in Ireland in poor and deteriorating condition.

These are the facts outlined by the report. There is no doubt that nature restoration is something that we have to do. It is essential that we restore biodiversity and bring our lands and water back to a condition where life can be sustainable in the long run. As the report states, “Without action, we will no longer be able to rely on nature for the very services we need to live.” It is devastating to me, then, that the importance of this has been completely undermined and the issue has been completely hijacked to create a farmer versus the environment debate. Let me make it clear that no one is closer to the environment than farmers are, and no one will benefit from nature restoration as much as farmers will. Our farmers know better than anyone the importance of addressing climate change and ensuring that the future of farming is protected.

I believe much of the controversy surrounding this law has been stirred up by big agri lobbyists and even some Government MEPs in order to scare the farming community out of supporting what is in their best interest. I do not blame the farming community for being anxious. Anyone who knows me or who has heard me in the Chamber knows that I am extremely sceptical of the EU. I have never shied away from criticising EU institutions and the proposals they put forward. I understand more than most the distrust towards the EU. I understand that farmers make an income from their peatlands so, of course, they are going to be anxious about any proposals to change how they are used. However, I want to assure farmers that under the nature restoration law, they will not be forced to rewet their peatlands, and any suggestion otherwise from politicians is either disingenuous or wrong.

In fact, the nature restoration law does not address specific implementation at all. It only sets the targets. Suggestions in this motion that the law gives any instruction on implementation are not true. The truth is that the Government has complete flexibility regarding implementation at national level, but it will hide behind the EU, as it does when it taxes people. The law allows member states to determine for themselves how best to achieve the targets as they relate to national circumstances. It is up to the Government how this law is implemented. The law merely sets the targets.

It is completely disingenuous for Government MEPs and the Taoiseach to mislead farmers and the wider public on this. If the Taoiseach really was unhappy with the legislation, why did his MEPs not table a single amendment to it in the EU? The nature restoration law does not force farmers to rewet their lands. In fact, it does not mention farmers at all. If the Government wanted to, it could decide not to involve farmers altogether. We do not need to involve them. The proposal looks for Ireland to rewet approximately 116,000 ha by 2050. Bord na Móna has already committed to rewetting 80,000 ha and Coillte has committed to rewetting 30,000 ha. They alone will meet the Irish target without touching farmers, but why has this not been communicated? The law reads:

The method and scope of restoration, maintenance and compensation measures chosen by Member States to implement the Regulation will determine more precisely which, how and when stakeholders are affected. The possible short-term costs linked with loss of income that certain population groups such as farmers, forest owners or fishers may incur while they transition to more sustainable practices could be partially or totally covered under EU and other sources funding.

The State can decide what happens in this context and how people will be compensated. Even if the Government decided to include farmers, it would be the choice of farmers whether to sign up for rewetting and they would be compensated for doing so. Despite the misinformation being spread, nobody would be forced to do anything. So long as our Government implements the directive effectively and properly, farmers can be protected.

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