The senior inspector with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for air and water quality, Ted Massey has said that he is confident that “normal” weather conditions will see an improvement in water quality data.
Speaking on Agriland‘‘s livestream of the 2024 National Ploughing Championships, during a discussion on water quality and the EU Nitrates Directive, Massey was asked if the European Commission was likely to show any flexibility on Ireland’s water quality in terms of ‘lag time’.
Lag time refers to the period of time between an action for water quality being carried out and its positive impact being noted, which may not be taken into account in latest data sets.
A team of officials from the commission visited Ireland this week to engage in a series of meetings and farm visits on this very topic.
“The issue of lag times from the commission’s perspective is a scientific one. It’s that lag time from when the action takes place on the ground and when you see the full impact, and that will vary by soil type, and things like weather will also have an influence on it.
“If you look at the data from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), the latest data they have published relates to the year 2023 and they were very clear we did not see any sign of improvement in our water quality data for 2023,” Massey added.
However, Massey pointed out that the weather we had for much of 2023 could have hampered measures to improve water quality.
“If you think back to the weather we had last year, it was not a normal year in terms of its weather, and I’d be confident, given the more normal weather this year, and given the actions that farmers are continuing to embrace on the ground, that we will see improvements in our water quality data,” he said.
“Our aim is to get to a point where the commission can be assured that they can grant us a derogation and it will be 2024 water quality data that will ultimately inform that decision because by then we will have 2024 data.”
The department inspector said that the terms under which a derogation can be granted are clearly laid out in the Nitrates Directive.
“If you look at the Nitrates Directive, it’s very clear member states may be granted a derogation provided that it will not prejudice achievements of the directive’s objectives, and they are to reduce and prevent pollution of water caused by agriculture,” he said.
“So that’s the bottom line. Water quality data is really what’s going to inform that decision, and that’s why we all have to get behind this and continue the work that is there, and try to further development of that momentum that’s there behind it,” Massey added.