Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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102. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department does not carry out greenhouse gas emissions modelling specifically in relation to the nitrates derogation, given its potentially huge climate impact; if his Department is not required to do so in order to comply with the provisions of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55037/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I would like to begin by pointing out that the Nitrates Regulations limit the amount of organic nitrogen applied to land. They do not limit the number of animals held by a farmer. The derogation therefore does not directly impact on emissions from the sector.Retaining Ireland's nitrates derogation is a Government priority that is justified by our grass-based system which is very efficient from a greenhouse gas emissions perspective. It is also important to bear in mind that discontinuing the derogation may have unintended consequences.

An environmental and economic modelling report, commissioned by my Department and published last month by Teagasc, shows removal of the derogation risks resulting in a move away from our grass-based system. If cows cannot walk to land for grazing they will be held indoors, increasing greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions. This will also be negative for biodiversity and may do nothing to improve water quality.

The loss of the derogation would likely increase demand for land to offset the impact of reduced stocking rate limits. Competition for such land would impact other sectors also such as our tillage sector or indeed our ambitions to increase the area under organics, which are key government priorities.

There is also a risk that if farms operating at higher levels of technical efficiency are constrained in cow numbers, they will increase milk yield per cow through increased feed.

Derogation farms are required to implement higher standards than non-derogated farms.

New regulations introduced under the current Nitrates Action Programme reduced the overall chemical Nitrogen allowance for all farmers by 10% in 2022, with a further 5% cut for more intensive farmers applying from this year. They also restrict the use of unprotected urea from the 15th of September this year. These measures will all help to reduce GHG and/or ammonia emissions. However, there is potential to do more.

Agriculture was set a 2030 target of reducing GHG emissions by 25% under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act (2021). I remain committed to that target.

The Marginal Abatement Cost Curve, developed by Teagasc, sets out how farmers can achieve emissions reductions in the most cost-effective manner possible. Government is supporting farmers through supporting improvements in breeding, soil fertility and other actions to reduce emissions.