NEWSAnd Updates
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Last week, during the European Parliament's hearing for the new Commissioner-designate for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, we were hit with a revelation that has left me deeply concerned. Hansen made it clear that there is no dedicated EU budget to support the implementation of the Nature Restoration Law. This is a direct contradiction to what Irish farmers were told earlier this year.
When asked about funding provisions for farmers affected by the law, Hansen stated unequivocally: “There is no budget. There is no funding available to compensate farmers who will be affected by this new legislation.” I was shocked. This is not what we were led to believe when the law was passed by a narrow margin in the European Parliament.
Back in February, the Irish government assured us that both national and EU funding opportunities would be available to help farmers meet their obligations under this law. The Minister for Agriculture had stated that one of the key tasks of the restoration planning process would be to identify incentive schemes and funding sources from both national and European levels. Now, it seems like those promises are on shaky ground.
This leaves Irish farmers in an incredibly precarious position. They were told they would receive adequate financial support to help them comply with these new regulations. Now they’re being told there’s no dedicated budget at all.
I am calling on the Taoiseach to provide urgent clarification on this matter. Farmers need clear answers on how they will be supported—financially and practically—through this transition. They deserve better than vague promises and shifting goalposts. We need immediate clarity on how the government plans to fill this funding gap and ensure our farmers aren’t left carrying the burden of these new regulations alone.
This revelation raises serious questions about how effectively the Nature Restoration Law can be implemented across Europe without proper financial backing. If we don’t get answers soon, there’s a real risk that farmers will struggle to meet their obligations under this law, potentially undermining its ambitious environmental goals.
Irish farmers deserve better than empty promises—they need real support now.
When asked about funding provisions for farmers affected by the law, Hansen stated unequivocally: “There is no budget. There is no funding available to compensate farmers who will be affected by this new legislation.” I was shocked. This is not what we were led to believe when the law was passed by a narrow margin in the European Parliament.
Back in February, the Irish government assured us that both national and EU funding opportunities would be available to help farmers meet their obligations under this law. The Minister for Agriculture had stated that one of the key tasks of the restoration planning process would be to identify incentive schemes and funding sources from both national and European levels. Now, it seems like those promises are on shaky ground.
This leaves Irish farmers in an incredibly precarious position. They were told they would receive adequate financial support to help them comply with these new regulations. Now they’re being told there’s no dedicated budget at all.
I am calling on the Taoiseach to provide urgent clarification on this matter. Farmers need clear answers on how they will be supported—financially and practically—through this transition. They deserve better than vague promises and shifting goalposts. We need immediate clarity on how the government plans to fill this funding gap and ensure our farmers aren’t left carrying the burden of these new regulations alone.
This revelation raises serious questions about how effectively the Nature Restoration Law can be implemented across Europe without proper financial backing. If we don’t get answers soon, there’s a real risk that farmers will struggle to meet their obligations under this law, potentially undermining its ambitious environmental goals.
Irish farmers deserve better than empty promises—they need real support now.