Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

During last week's flying visit to Ireland, the EU environmental Commissioner ruled out any movement on nitrates reduction in this country. This was astonishing given that in my constituency, the leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil came to west Cork to meet farmers who had ticked all the boxes environmentally, thereby leaving them with hope of some movement. These farmers and others were keeping thousands of in-calf heifers throughout west Cork and elsewhere in the country in the expectation of at least an extension of the derogation deadline. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil politicians continued to offer hope in west Cork until the hammer blow from the Commissioner last week. He stated clearly that no one in Europe should hold out any hope for movement on this issue in Ireland. He said there was never any such hope. The Commissioner would not even visit a farm due to his frustration. I have since been inundated with calls from farmers in west Cork who are set to lose tens of thousands of euros. A text I received earlier said that a farmer has already lost €20,000 due to keeping in-calf heifers on false promises. A politician in west Cork said some time back that compensation packages would be put in place for these farmers. Will the Minister announce when a compensation package will be put in place for farmers who will have to cull thousands of animals? What are the terms of the compensation package?

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