What is the nitrates derogation?

The nitrates derogation is a special permission from the EU allowing Irish farmers to apply up to 220 kg of livestock manure nitrogen per hectare, higher than the standard EU limit of 170 kg/ha. This higher limit is essential for Ireland's unique grass-based farming system.

Why does Ireland need it?

Mullooly emphasised Ireland's distinctive agricultural advantage: "Ireland has a unique ability to grow lush green grass, which has the least impact on our environment. Grass is the most natural and environmentally friendly source of feedstuffs." He stressed the importance of the derogation for family farms: "Losing this derogation would be devastating for Irish family farms, particularly in the Midlands and North-West."

Retaining the derogation

Mullooly highlighted the efforts already made by Irish farmers: "In Ireland, we have adopted new methods to reduce the environmental impact, where we brought in a subsidised national liming programme, low-emission slurry-spreading equipment systems have proven highly effective, there's been a reduction in crude protein in animal feed and, of course, environmental training and improving environmental farm biodiversity, with new hedgerows retaining native trees." He added, "We are doing our best, and based on this, we're confident that the scientific evidence will clearly show that Ireland should – and must – retain our competitive advantage of growing grass with the retention of the nitrates derogation."

The fate of the derogation lies with the EU Commission and the Council of Ministers, with a decision expected before the end of 2025. Mullooly is actively seeking support from fellow MEPs to persuade their respective Ministers for Environment to back Ireland's request for an extension. "In less than 18 months' time, farmers of Ireland will face a major decision in Brussels on the future of their industry," Mullooly stressed. He added, "As I say, it will be in the city of Brussels that Our Council of Ministers and the Commission will decide this issue."

Call to action

Mullooly concluded with a powerful appeal: "I've been asked to come to this House today to ask our MEPs to speak to their Member State ministers and their governments and impress upon them our case for retaining the nitrates derogation. I appeal to MEPs to bring the message back that Ireland has a very special case to retain its derogation." This initiative by MEP Mullooly marks a significant step in Ireland's efforts to retain its nitrates derogation, crucial for maintaining the competitiveness and sustainability of Irish family farms in Ireland.

Mullooly raised important questions, asking: "How many community groups were involved in this EUJTF process? How many former Bord na Móna and ESB workers or their families directly benefited from the grant aid?" 

These questions highlight his commitment to ensuring full engagement from those affected by the EUJTF initiatives.

As the European Commission undertakes a review of the EUJTF's operations, President Ursula von der Leyen has indicated that "red tape and regulation is hampering the effectiveness of the EUJTF schemes within some countries - with 40 million euros unspent." In light of this, Mullooly emphasised the need for community feedback before the Commission's review is presented to the European Parliament early next year. This feedback, he noted, will be crucial in shaping potential legislative changes ahead of the introduction of EUJTF 2.0.

Mullooly has encouraged all community groups in the midlands to participate in this consultation during the month of August. He has assured them that their views will be represented as part of the Commission's review process. Mullooly, who will be involved in scrutinising the review as part of the European Parliament's Regional Development Committee, stated, "Your view will be heard. I can assure you of that."

Through his efforts, Mullooly aims to ensure that the experiences and concerns of midlands communities are taken into account as the EUJTF evolves, reflecting his dedication to effective and responsive policy-making.

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 Speaking ahead of the annual Beef Show in Tullamore, Mullooly highlighted the critical challenges facing the Irish beef sector, particularly in the Midlands and North-West regions. Ireland has seen a significant reduction in suckler cow numbers over the past decade, with projections indicating a further decline in the coming years. The income of beef farmers has also plummeted, with the Teagasc report for 2023 revealing an average income of just €14,700 per farmer. 

 “This decline is not just a threat to our rural communities and the family farm model, but it’s a national economic issue that requires urgent intervention,” Mullooly stated. “The measures we need to counter this decline are clear and must be implemented without delay.” MEP Mullooly has confirmed that he has written to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen to propose a number of practical steps that can be taken at a European level and moves that must be supported by the Minister for Agriculture here at home. 

  Key measures proposed by MEP Mullooly: 

 1. Extension of Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status Mullooly is advocating for the extension of the EU’s Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status to include Irish suckler cow herds. He says this move would help preserve the identity and heritage of native Irish beef and provide a premium market for these products. 

   2. Investigation into the Irish beef market In his correspondence to the Commission President, Mullooly has urged the immediate appointment of THE new Agricultural Commissioner to investigate the dysfunctional beef market in Ireland. The investigation, Mullooly insists, should be conducted in collaboration with Ireland’s newly established Agri-Food Regulatory Body to ensure fair pricing and sustainability in the sector. 

   3. Retail price transparency Mullooly is also calling for greater transparency in retail pricing, specifically advocating for the publication of the percentage of the end product price that goes to producers. This transparency, he argues, is essential for ensuring that farmers receive a fair share of the profits. 

   A call for direct support to suckler herd owners In addition to these measures, Mullooly is pushing for the introduction of a new direct payment scheme specifically aimed at supporting suckler herd owners. This payment would provide much-needed financial stability to farmers and help sustain the suckler herd population in Ireland. Mullooly concluded by stressing the urgency of these actions, stating, “Our beef farmers are the backbone of rural Ireland, and we must take decisive steps to protect their livelihoods and preserve our agricultural heritage.”

As closures of vital community businesses continue at an alarming rate of two per day across the country, Mullooly has urged the Irish Government to leverage the updated EU VAT Directive to provide immediate relief.

For nearly a year, the debate over whether a split in the VAT rate to allow the hospitality sector's food element to return to 9% while the accommodation element would remain at 13.5% has overshadowed the critical need for action. 

Mullooly, who has thoroughly researched the issue, has argued that a lack of basic understanding of EU VAT law is now harming the hospitality industry. 

“The updated EU VAT Directive allows for Member States to apply different VAT rates to restaurant and catering services versus accommodation services, offering the flexibility needed to reintroduce a 9% VAT rate specifically for food-led businesses,” the Independent Ireland candidate said.

"The EU VAT Directive provides a clear legislative pathway for differentiating VAT rates within the hospitality sector," Mullooly added. "The Irish Government is in a position to lower the 9% VAT rate for restaurant and catering services while maintaining the 13.5% rate for accommodation services. This is not just possible but necessary to save our struggling small businesses."

Public and political support for lowering the VAT rate for food businesses is overwhelming - with 64% in support versus 18% against in a recent Red C poll. 

"Our hospitality sector is integral to the fabric of Irish society. By taking advantage of the flexibility offered by the EU VAT Directive, we can ensure that our local restaurants and cafés not only survive but thrive," Mullooly stated. "We must not let bureaucratic inertia and a misunderstanding of EU law continue to devastate the social fabric of communities in the Midlands North-West and across the country."

"It cannot be stressed enough that the current crisis facing our hospitality sector is not just an economic issue but also a social one," Mullooly concluded: "Our communities are being deprived of the local restaurants and cafés that serve as essential meeting places for socialising, working and celebrating significant milestones. It's beyond time that the Irish Government takes decisive action.”

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Contesting the Midlands North-West constituency, which spans fifteen counties with over 3,300 kilometers of coastline, Mullooly has made the fight for fair fishing quotas a cornerstone of his campaign. "Ireland's fishing industry has been dealt an incredibly unfair hand," Mullooly asserted. "We control 12% of all EU waters but are allocated just 5.6% of the fishing quotas. This is a blatant injustice that cannot continue. 

Our vessels are allowed to catch only 15% of the fish in our own waters, while foreign trawlers exploit our rich marine resources." Speaking in Killybegs at a meeting with representatives of fisheries bodies, he highlighted the disparity by pointing out that Ireland's coastline is six times greater than that of the Netherlands, yet Dutch fleets legally caught 40% more fish in the North Atlantic than Irish fleets in a single year. 

“This is not just about numbers; it's about the livelihoods of our fishermen and fisherwomen, the sustainability of our coastal communities, and the preservation of our maritime heritage," he said. 

 A former RTÉ journalist and broadcaster with over thirty years of experience in the community and voluntary sector, Mullooly brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of local issues to his campaign. He stressed the need for a united front among Irish MEPs to address these inequities. "Regardless of party lines, all Irish MEPs must rally together to fight for our fisheries. This is a national issue that demands our collective action." 

Mullooly's commitment to the cause resonates strongly with coastal communities within his constituency, who have long felt the pressures of restrictive quotas and the encroachment of larger, more powerful foreign trawlers. "Fishing communities in Mayo, Galway, Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal along with the coastal counties of Louth, and Meath, are the backbone of our maritime culture. 

They deserve a fair share of the resources that are rightfully ours," he declared. Though he has yet to decide which European political grouping he will align with, Mullooly stated that his decision will depend on the post-election composition of the parliament. "I will choose the alliance that best serves the interests of Ireland and our fisheries. My priority is to ensure that our voice is heard loud and clear in Europe," he emphasized.  

Mullooly also criticized the terms of Ireland's entry into the EU in 1973, particularly regarding fishing rights. "Fishing was handed a very bad deal when we joined the EU. It's high time we renegotiated these terms to reflect the realities and needs of our industry today. The quotas imposed on us are outdated and unjust." 

As the election draws near, Mullooly remains steadfast in his advocacy, engaging with constituents and pledging to bring their concerns to the forefront of the European Parliament. "This election is a pivotal moment for Irish fisheries. We must seize this opportunity to demand fair treatment and ensure the sustainability of our industry for future generations," he said. In closing, Mullooly reinforced his unwavering commitment: "Our fishermen and fisherwomen deserve better. They deserve a fair deal, and I will fight tooth and nail to make sure they get it. This is about protecting our way of life and ensuring that our coastal communities thrive. Together, we can achieve a better future for Irish fisheries." The vast constituency takes in fifteen counties across three provinces with a population of 1.8 million people.

Policy failures 
The Housing Commission’s report lays bare the chronic issues plaguing Ireland’s housing sector. The Commission’s findings include a call for a radical “strategic reset” of housing policy, citing ineffective decision-making and reactive policies and a severe housing deficit, estimated between 212,500 and 256,000 homes as of the 2022 Census, contributing to larger household sizes, lack of affordable housing, and increasing homelessness. 

  The report also noted that Wicklow, Dublin, and Kerry were identified as the least affordable counties, with Dublin suffering from contradictions between national planning and foreign direct investment patterns. A significant need to increase social housing to 20% of the national stock, with stable public and private funding, was also a key finding of the leaked report. 

Mullooly’s commitment
Ciaran Mullooly emphasises that the Housing Commission’s report underscores yet another failure of government policy. He asserts that immediate and decisive action is necessary to mitigate the crisis: "The Housing Commission's report is a damning indictment of the government's persistent failure to address Ireland’s housing crisis. 

  “The severity of the housing deficit, coupled with one of the highest levels of public expenditure for housing in Europe yielding some of the poorest outcomes, is unacceptable. 

  “If elected to the European Parliament, I will leave no stone unturned to secure strategic funding to front-load the costs associated with supplying more social and affordable housing now, not in the distant future.

Generation rent 
Mullooly, a bulwark of rural regeneration said: “While the report places great emphasis on the need to increase social housing stock, we need to also be conscious of the fact that ‘generation rent’ is a generation of middle-income earners trapped between qualifying for social housing and being able to afford to buy a house. 

  “Therefore, I will be searching high-up and low-down in Europe for all and any funding that may be available to enable the state to frontload investment in housing now, not later. 

  “My party’s ‘Housing and Infrastructure plan’ which is being developed as part of our general election manifesto, clearly identifies that this is a problem which is almost completely of the current Government’s making. It is complex but there are common sense solutions that if applied in practice could have a truly meaningful impact on the lives of people. 

  The former RTÉ Midlands Correspondent explained that the problems facing the housing sector are multi-faceted and simply: “throwing more money at the issue, indiscriminately, will not even make a dent in it.

  A veteran journalist and community worker, Mullooly understands that tackling the housing crisis requires “radical measures and systemic reforms” and continued: “Population increases, ridiculously high building standards, and unbridled taxation are all within the gift of our national Government to address. But they simply have not.

Accessing EU funding
Mullooly plans to leverage his position in the European Parliament if elected, to access critical EU funding to address the systemic issues in Ireland’s housing sector. According to Mr Mullooly, specific funds that could be pursued include: “The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), this fund supports social inclusion and helps address housing affordability issues across the EU. I don’t think Ireland has taken full advantage of this funding for this purpose.”


  “The Affordable Housing Initiative under the Single Market Programme (SMP-COSME), this initiative aims to support the construction and renovation of affordable housing using innovative approaches and multi-stakeholder partnerships. Again, we need to be certain Ireland is leveraging all these funding streams, not tomorrow but - TODAY!”

  “The European Investment Bank (EIB) has already financed social housing projects in Ireland and can be a critical partner in scaling up these efforts.”

  "I will advocate for Ireland to tap into these EU strategic funding mechanisms to address our housing supply crisis starting on day one in Brussels. 

  “By securing EU funds, we can mitigate the impact of inflation and construction costs, ensuring that building more homes becomes a priority now rather than being delayed indefinitely. 

  “The cost of inaction is too high, and with the right support from the EU, we can turn the tide on this crisis and provide the housing security that our citizens desperately need."​

Personal Statement from Ciaran Mullooly, Independent Ireland MEP candidate, Midlands-North West and former RTE Midlands Correspondent:

“Coimisiún na Meán offers guidance to broadcasters such as RTÉ so they may consider the evidence provided by recent opinion polls before making important final decisions on whom to give valuable airtime to or include in influential high-profile debates such as Monday night’s Midlands North West debate on RTE One. ​