Friends' Work

// EU TO INVESTIGATE EXTENSION OF IRISH SLURRY SPREADING SEASON

DECISION IGNORED EU COMMISSIONER RULING

The European Commission has responded to our complaint over the decision of the Minister for the Environment and the Minister for Agriculture to extend the 2011 slurry spreading season for two weeks beyond the Irish Regulations, which requires an end to slurry spreading by October 15th every year.

This had been specifically forbidden in January 2011 by the European Commission for the Environment, J. Potocnik.

Adding weight to the complaint, we cite the recent EPA 2010 water data monitoring figures which show an increase in exceedences of the nitrate parametric value from 16 supplies in 2009 to 19 supplies in 2010. The population affected by nitrate exceedences increased more than 4 fold. Ireland now has the highest rate in Europe of two of the diseases caused by slurry in drinking water, cryptosporidium and STEC [e.coli].

During FIE's recent Petition to the European Parliament, Danish MEP Margrete Auken told the EU Petitions Committee that 'you get the feeling that we have the EU at the moon or somewhere and what is going on in Ireland doesn't bother anybody outside.'

PRESS RELEASE     |        READ THE COMPLAINT

See panel below for documentation