MEP Ciaran Mullooly has said that the latest report on water quality "shows targeted action is needed to protect Ireland’s nitrates derogation".

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has called for "faster action" on water quality as indicators show "little overall improvement in 2025".

The agency's Water Quality in 2025: An Indicators Report, published this week, found "overall water quality remains unsatisfactory in many areas".

The EPA said that nutrient levels remain too high in "a large proportion of water bodies" and while improvements do occur, they are not being sustained.

'Important indication'

MEP Mullooly has said the report provides an "important indication" of how the nitrates derogation implementation is performing across the different regions of the country.

The EPA's water quality reports are a "key part of the evidence base" used by the Irish government and the European Commission when assessing whether Ireland is meeting the environmental conditions attached to the derogation, Mullooly said.

He said the findings matter because Ireland’s ability to retain the derogation "depends on demonstrating that water quality is being protected and improved".

"If nitrate levels continue to rise in certain catchments, there is a risk that further restrictions could be imposed, or that Ireland’s case for retaining the derogation could be weakened," he said.

"The best-in-class regions are the midlands and north-west, where a number of catchments are meeting the required water quality standards and require no further action plans.

"This demonstrates that targeted measures can deliver positive environmental outcomes when they are focused on the areas under greatest pressure."

'Greater support'

Mullooly said the government "must provide greater support to farmers and communities in areas that are at risk of losing the nitrates derogation".

"Having worked so hard at EU level to secure the derogation, it would be a retrograde step to fail to meet the conditions required to retain it," he said.

“The focus must now be on targeted, evidence-based measures in the areas under greatest pressure, rather than imposing unnecessary burdens on farmers in best-in-class regions who are already delivering excellent environmental outcomes.

"The EPA evidence shows that a one-size-fits-all approach is not the answer.

"Where catchments are under pressure, the government must act quickly and provide practical supports."

'Strongest possible case'

Mullooly said the government now needs to use the EPA findings to "make the strongest possible case" to the European Commission.

“The European Commission will look closely at Ireland’s official water quality evidence," he said.

"The government must show that Ireland can target action where it is needed, support farmers to meet the standards, and avoid unnecessary blanket measures in areas that are already performing well."

Actions

In a statement to Agriland, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage said that Minister James Browne has noted the contents of the report published this week.

"The main drivers impacting overall progress are due to the ongoing excess loss of nutrients (phosphorous and nitrogen) to waters, due to agriculture, wastewater discharges and run-off from land," the department said.

The sixth Nitrates Action Programme was published and implemented from January 2026 to December 2028.

"This is the most ambitious programme to date to address agricultural nutrient impact on water quality and includes measures on nutrient reduction, training and awareness raising, and inspection and enforcement," the department added.