UNSIGNED PREVIEW — not a promoted public release.
Actor: Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael coalition
insufficient_evidenceTopic: agriculture
Office: Government of Ireland
Evidence: 7 events
Sources: 7
This promise by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael coalition has INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE for a rating. Only 7 evidence events were found. More research is needed before a reliable assessment can be made.
This promise is SPECIFIC (vagueness score: 45/100). It includes measurable targets or deadlines that make it trackable. Specific promises are easier to verify as kept or broken.
Issue category: general
During the Irish general election campaign, both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael pledged to work to retain the Nitrates Derogation post-2025 and to actively seek increased CAP funding.
The Social Democrats criticized the government's lobbying of the EU Environment Commissioner on the Nitrates Derogation, calling it 'grossly irresponsible', confirming that active government lobbying took place.
Fianna Fáil's Agriculture Committee issued a formal statement welcoming the EU proposal to extend the Nitrates Derogation, underscoring the party's role in Government and in Europe in advocating for the extension.
Fine Gael publicly claimed credit for securing the Nitrates Derogation extension for farmers, calling it official and touting it as an achievement.
The European Environmental Bureau criticized the extension, noting that from 2026 Ireland will be the only EU country still benefiting from a nitrates derogation, arguing the decision ignored science on worsening nitrate pollution.
The European Commission extended Ireland's derogation under the Nitrates Directive for a further three years, starting 1 January 2026, following significant lobbying by the Irish government.
Minister Heydon (Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture) formally announced that Ireland had secured the continued availability of the Nitrates Derogation following a positive vote at the EU Nitrates Committee.
Do everything within its power to make the case at EU level to secure the retention of the Nitrates Derogation