Following the passing of the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) in a key vote in the European Parliament today (Tuesday, February 27), Sinn Féin representatives have voiced their reasons for not supporting the law.
Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus rejected the NRL in the vote today as, in a statement, the party said “key concerns of farmers had not been met”.
MacManus, along with Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, who are part of The Left group in the European Parliament, were the only two Irish MEPs who voted against the law today.
MacManus said: “Sinn Féin have set out at every stage that it had to address the key concerns of the farmers.
“We came at this with the right attitude – [we] wanted to see legislation passed, and we tabled amendments previously to address the concerns raised with us by farmers and those living in rural communities.
“More importantly, we wanted clarity and assurances on long-term permanent funding as a source of income for farmers, fishers, foresters and others for dedicated nature restoration to ensure generation renewal.
The MEP explained that Sinn Féin voted in favour of the law in a plenary session in July 2023 in the hope that small farmers, particularly along the west and north-west of Ireland, “would not have to bear the heaviest burden”.
“Unfortunately, this did not materialise. We in Sinn Féin must now make sure that the consultation process on the national restoration plans will address these key issues, so we can ensure the viability of long-term farming, funding and the environment,” MacManus said.
“What has passed is not adequate and doesn’t deliver for farmers and rural communities, and that is why Sinn Féin opposed the NRL today,” he added.
The Sinn Féin party spokesperson on agriculture, Claire Kerrane TD, shared concerns over the passing of the NRL, in particular over how funding will be provided for farmers to undertake nature restoration activities.
Deputy Kerrane said: “Reference to public participation and compensation have been removed, and analysis of gaps in implementing it are only required from member states now – after the law has passed. That is not good enough.
“Assessments and planning should have been carried out well ahead of today’s vote in the European Parliament, to provide assurance to farmers and rural communities. Given the law has now passed, that must now happen without delay.
“Given how badly farmers have been let down by our government, we simply cannot rely on them to deliver a just transition for the agricultural sector,” Kerrane added.
Welcoming the Nature Restoration Law
The Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) has welcomed the passing of the Nature Restoration Law and believes it is a step forward to restoring Ireland’s “degraded ecosystems”.
In a statement, the IWT said the law was “weakened since the [European] Commission’s original proposal back in 2022”, but that it still sets “timelines and targets for bringing back nature on land and sea”.
The IWT added that the NRL will be a “cornerstone law for the protection of biodiversity, food security and human health in Europe”.
Grace Carr, IWT marine advocacy officer said: “We are happy and relieved to see MEPs vote to accept the Nature Restoration Law.
“The European Parliament was part of the negotiations on this final text, and it’s good to see that they stuck by it even with last ditch efforts to derail the law.”
The IWT has described the NRL as an opportunity for all stakeholders “to work together to identify ways in which to save nature and create schemes which can help incentivise farmers and landowners to voluntarily take part”.