BREAKING: Ireland's nitrates derogation has been renewed.🗳️
This has no scientific basis & fails nature, the public, & farmers.
“The evidence simply did not exist to justify renewing Ireland’s nitrates derogation"
"Meanwhile, our precious water and wildlife suffer.”
swanireland.ie/2025/12/rene...
People across the island of Ireland want clean beaches, pristine lakes and rivers - and both governments are catastrophically failing them
theearthscorr.substack.com/p/opinion-da...
Ireland's 'unique grass-based agriculture system'
Calling this something farmers will “enjoy” is absurd. Corporate interests get the profits, and the environmental damage gets dumped on everyone else.
This is an unforgivable breach of the social contract between the Irish Government and the Irish people.
Instead of listening to the science & working with farmers to transition to sustainable stocking levels the Commission & Irish government have decided to usher farmers further down a ruinous path. We can't face into another Nitrates Derogation circus in 2 yrs time. Now is the time to turn the page.
Sorry Lady's Island Lake, your prospects just got a lot dimmer thanks to the Irish government's support for the dairy industry at all costs. Thanks to @elainemcgoff.bsky.social for spelling it out so clearly.
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
Excellent article from @elainemcgoff.bsky.social on the many, many failures that have led us to where we are.
Nobody asked the people of this country if we were willing to sacrifice our waterways so the dairy industry could wallow in profits
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
"Our waters are crying out for a break from the pollution, Irish people are calling for clean water, but our voices are being drowned out in a world of political wrangling and vested interest. And the thing is, you can’t drink politics"
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
#nitratesderogation
You've until 5pm today to let govt know what you think of their plan for agricultural nitrates pollution.
All you need to do is send an email. In the post linked below we've some measures we feel should be in there & if you think they should be in there let them know.
swanireland.ie/nitrates-pol...
Ireland once again in the dock, for issues that @antaisce.bsky.social & SWAN have long highlighted as being legally problematic.
Amongst other serious issues, this judgement highlights that the arterial drainage act is not compliant with the WFD.
Time to give that archaic legislation the boot!
A ‘national embarrassment’: Ireland in breach of multiple water quality rules, court finds
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
With animal agriculture accounting for 38% of Ireland’s GHG emissions, #foodsystemchange must be part of that transformative action. Let’s hope our new President finds her way to starting that discussion.
The Lie of the Land: A Game Plan for Ireland in the Climate Crisis should be read by everyone who cares about our future on this island.
Great discussion with @thinkorswim.bsky.social and @whittledaway.bsky.social at @booksupstairs.bsky.social yesterday, thanks to all involved 🙏👏📚
New CCAC #climate report covered on multiple RTÉ news bulletins just now, incl. Morning Ireland interview with chair, Marie Donnelly.
Total mentions of agriculture, Ireland’s largest source of emissions: zero.
Looking at you @stopclimatechaos.bsky.social and @foeireland.bsky.social
We'll be there marching with these messages 🙂 Because ending fossil fuels is only half the battle. We also urgently need a transition to a #plantbasedfoodsystem, in Ireland and around the world.
@ellamcsweeney.bsky.social doing a great report right now on Marine Protected Areas in Ireland on this morning's @rteone.rte.ie CountryWide.
👏
It's not just ambition on climate action that's being run down, but nature.
Planet Earth is in the fight of its life and, on balance, those of us who are its allies are losing.
It's our duty to work out why, and act on it.
share.google/N0QU31GX4Znw...
“Ireland’s derogation farmers” - are those the ones responsible for the pollution that plagues our natural environment and is killing off water bodies like #LoughDerg and #LadysIslandLake?
'Hijacked'? 'Pushing an agenda'? It's called EU law, namely the Habitats Directive, it's been in place for decades, & like most laws Ireland is failing to do that well, while our biodiversity pays the price.
So, yes, eNGOs are pushing it. Unapologetically.
www.farmersjournal.ie/news/news/wa...
Even if you think it’s ok, this kind of farming is not a sustainable means of feeding the world, or even just our country. It will only produce a small amount of expensive protein, accessible to a select few - as Nick acknowledges in the report with reference to the price.
#plantbasedfoodsystem
“The killing of animals for our own consumption is not a scary thing, it’s not weird”
Maybe it should be?! Maybe Nick and Cass could be teaching their children that animals are sentient beings and we don’t need to kill and eat our friends.
I've just signed this petition to save Lady's Island Lake, Co. Wexford. Will you sign your name too? my.uplift.ie/petitions/sa... @uplift.ie
Keep up the good work @elainemcgoff.bsky.social! Our government’s willingness to sacrifice nature for profit is disgraceful. How many rivers and lakes must die before they wake up and change course?
www.antaisce.org/news/an-tais...
Today I endeavoured to speak for the rivers, to provide a counter balance to the lobbyist's narrative on the polluting nitrates derogation.
Our rivers, lakes and seas deserve a chance to run healthy, wild and free from pollution
www.antaisce.org/news/an-tais...
Why is the Government playing chicken with Europe on climate?
My latest for the Irish Times.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
For those in any doubt, the ongoing nitrates derogation debate is not about the science on water quality, it's political wrangling, with our rivers, lakes and seas caught in the crossfire.
Our waterways deserve better- one can't drink politics.
www.rte.ie/news/politic...
Taoiseach decries slump in #climate action…abroad, of course.
Meanwhile, back home, Taoiseach opposes solar farms & 100% supports Ireland’s climate-destroying and water-polluting livestock sector.
Go figure.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
At least the Irish Times is mentioning it with a 'this is alarming' framing. RTÉ seems to have nothing to say on the subject 👎
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
