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...

OPINION: Dáil Éireann and Stormont tone deaf on citizen views about farm pollution in our waters

People across the island want clean beaches, pristine lakes and rivers - and both governments are catastrophically failing

theearthscorr.substack.com

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.

Irish farmers’ nitrates derogation extended by EU for further three years

Extension of exemption follows extensive lobbying by Government in Brussels

irishtimes.com

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.

European Environmental Bureau🍃@eeb.org · 10mo ago

Ireland’s water is going green, yet the EU just approved YET another nitrates derogation... Rural communities have spoken: they want clean rivers, not more pollution. Science and public health are clear. It’s time to enforce the rules and safeguard Ireland’s waters. Press release & letter below👇

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...

Most Irish people want clean water, not a nitrates derogation

Has the Government ever asked the people of Ireland if they agree with pulling on the green jersey to convince Europe to give us another derogation?

irishexaminer.com

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...

Most Irish people want clean water, not a nitrates derogation

Has the Government ever asked the people of Ireland if they agree with pulling on the green jersey to convince Europe to give us another derogation?

irishexaminer.com

"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...

Nitrates Pollution - Sustainable Water Network

Here’s what’s happening with nitrates in Ireland and what you can do to help stop this pollutant. Nearly half (44%) of our rivers have nitrate concentrations that are too high.  The biggest cause is a...

swanireland.ie

Sustainable Water Network (SWAN)@swanireland.ie · 11mo ago

You may have heard about Ireland looking for a "nitrates derogation" in the news. But what does it mean? Why are nitrates a problem? Why does the government want Ireland to be allowed to use more than the normal limits?🤔 Read our explainer and take the action. 💙💦🙌 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!

Sustainable Water Network (SWAN)@swanireland.ie · 11mo ago

BREAKING: EU's top court has ruled that Ireland has widespread non-compliance with EU's main water law e.g. a lack of regulation on physical damage to our waters, & poor monitoring & control of water abstractions. We face daily fines & further decline if not fixed. swanireland.ie/2025/11/land...

A ‘national embarrassment’: Ireland in breach of multiple water quality rules, court finds

A ‘national embarrassment’: Ireland in breach of multiple water quality rules, court finds

European Court of Justice ruling raises questions about Government’s system of water charges

irishtimes.com

A ‘national embarrassment’: Ireland in breach of multiple water quality rules, court finds www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

A ‘national embarrassment’: Ireland in breach of multiple water quality rules, court finds

European Court of Justice ruling raises questions about Government’s system of water charges

irishtimes.com

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

Ruaidhri O'Boyle@roboyle.bsky.social · 11mo ago

It would appear that civil society are equally unwilling to mention the elephant in the room when it comes to agri emissions - an almost complete capture by animal agriculture. Pussy footing around the issue by eNGOs has gone on for far too long already.

@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...

Conservation projects abandoned as rich countries retreat from climate fight | The Observer

share.google

“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?

Elaine McGoff @elainemcgoff.bsky.social · 11mo ago

'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...

'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...

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

Save Ladys Island Lake, Co. Wexford

I've just signed this petition to save Lady's Island Lake, Co. Wexford. Will you sign your name too?

my.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...

An Taisce meets EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall to discuss the nitrates derogation

Ireland clearly needs to urgently implement evidence-based solutions to nitrate pollution. Ireland cannot afford yet another failed version of the derogation.

antaisce.org

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/...

Why is the Government playing chicken on climate with Europe?

At a time of climate crisis: Climate action is fiscal prudence

irishtimes.com

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/...

Taoiseach warns of danger that action on climate crisis is ‘weakening’

Micheál Martin addresses world leaders ahead of Cop30 in Brazil, speaking of impact Storm Éowyn left on State

irishtimes.com

Happy World Vegan Day! A reminder that a vegan diet is not just kinder to animals and better for our health - it's an essential action we can all take to halt climate breakdown and biodiversity loss.

HAPPY WORLD VEGAN DAY 🌱❤️ Today we celebrate everyone who chooses kindness and compassion for animals, every single day. 💚 A vegan lifestyle means proudly standing against animal cruelty, reducing your environmental footprint and showing that a compassionate future is possible. #Vegan #AusPol

Really pleased to get a great plug for THE LIE OF THE LAND when on the @tonightvmtv.bsky.social Show earlier this week.

Most of Ireland's uplands are commonage, ie co-owned by local farmers. The ONLY real income from commonage is via subsidies, almost always for ecosystem-killing sheep. This is why Irish mountains are all empty wastelands, kept that way by your taxes. Why are we STILL not paying farmers to rewild??

Over half of farms in West Cork fail pollution inspections. Clearly the fear of losing the nitrates derogation is not sufficient motivation to change behaviour. www.southernstar.ie/farming/over...

Over half of West Cork farms fail council water inspections | The Southern Star

A total of 55% of farms across the West Cork district have failed in National Agricultural Inspection Programme (NAIP) Inspections carried out by Cork County Council, the latest report shows.

southernstar.ie