The president of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has called for clarity on the government's proposed approach to retaining the nitrates derogation.

Francie Gorman has written to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon asking him to provide a copy of the letter sent by the European Commission last month.

The EU Commission has told Ireland it “must demonstrate compliance” with the Habitats Directive when granting farmers a nitrates derogation.

The minister cited this letter as the reason why he is now seeking to introduce Appropriate Assessments at catchment and/or sub catchment level.

Speaking after today's (Tuesday, July 15) meeting of the IFA National Council, Francie Gorman said the minister has to "come clean" on the EU correspondence in relation to the nitrates derogation.

“When we met with the minister recently, we were very clear that he should publish the letter, but for some reason he has decided not to do so.

"We pointed out last week that his public statement is causing huge confusion, uncertainty and frustration amongst farmers," he said.

The IFA president said that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) “is saying this requirement comes about because of a court judgment in The Netherlands".

"The minister said that the Irish attorney general has provided a view on this, and this should also be published. Our system of farming is very different from The Netherlands and the comparison is not justified, in our view,” he said.

Gorman also questioned if an impact assessment of this change in direction has been carried out.

“When Ireland previously secured the derogation, it was based on Appropriate Assessment at national level.

"The Commission has to explain why this approach is now to change.

“For farmers who are now in limbo, the minister has to provide full transparency on the process to date and have real engagement with the IFA on the way forward,” the IFA president said.