The Taoiseach, Micheál Martin has said the government is "not failing farmers" following confirmation that the European Commission has told Ireland it “must demonstrate compliance” with the Habitats Directive when granting farmers a nitrates derogation.

The current proposal is to take a catchments approach to the Habitats Directive under the nitrates derogation.

This means that Appropriate Assessments would be carried out by experts in 46 catchment areas prior to a derogation being granted.

The Social Democrats spokesperson on Agriculture, Jennifer Whitmore, yesterday (Tuesday, July 8) accused the government of "failing farmers and failing the environment" in the Dáil.

But that claim that was rejected by the Taoiseach who said the government "was not failing farmers" and was trying "to get a sustainable landing zone for all concerned" in relation to the future of the nitrates derogation.

Deputy Whitmore said that "successive governments have failed to protect our river bodies, lakes and estuaries" and she believes, as a result of the new European Commission direction, that it will be "unlikely" that Ireland will secure an extension to the nitrates derogation.

Deputy Whitmore added: "In the 1980s, there were 500 pristine river bodies in this country. We are now down to 20, so we can see the scale of the problem.

"There is a responsibility on the government to ensure that farmers are supported to make this change. What is the transition plan? We need to take our head out of the sand".

In response, the Taoiseach told the Social Democrats TD that there is "an action plan" in place.

"Last August, the Department of Agriculture and Marine published 'Water and Agriculture - A Collaborative Approach'.

"Progress has been made with a 10% reduction in nitrate concentration in our rivers in most regions.

"However, further reductions in nitrate concentration are needed, particularly in the south-east," the Taoiseach said.