Minister Heydon welcomes European Commissioner Jessika Roswall’s visit to Ireland
- Published on: 7 November 2025
- Last updated on: 7 November 2025
European Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, today visited Ireland, following an invitation extended by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD. The visit facilitated the Commissioner seeing first-hand farming in Ireland, whilst also engaging with public representatives and stakeholders on Ireland’s nitrates derogation request. The visit also provided an opportunity to view work on the bioeconomy.
Commenting on the visit, Minister Heydon outlined:
“In the context of the good work that Ireland is doing on actions to improve water quality and Ireland’s request for continuance of the Nitrates Derogation, I felt it an important step to invite Commissioner Roswall to visit Ireland and today marked an opportunity to engage directly with the Commissioner.”
The Minister added:
“Securing a continuation of our Nitrates derogation is a key government commitment and I am doing all in my power to deliver on this commitment. The visit follows a number of visits by Commission officials regarding our request for continuance of the derogation.”
Following a breakfast meeting with the Minister, the Commissioner visited a farm in County Kildare to see first-hand the work being done on water quality. This included the farm actions being delivered under the Nitrates Action Programme, participation in the European Innovation Partnership Farming for Water, the use of Low Emission equipment for manure application and the incorporation of clover at farm level. The farm is also a participant in the AG-NAV programme, measuring and monitoring its carbon footprint closely.
The programme will continue with a visit to Teagasc, Ashtown. The Commissioner will meet Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for responsibility for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture, Michael Healy-Rae TD, Oireachtas Members and Members of the EU Parliament, and will participate in a bioeconomy demonstration. Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O'Brien TD, will join a working lunch with the Commissioner hosted by Minister Heydon.
The Commissioner and Minister Heydon will then have open and wide-ranging dialogue with Oireachtas members and MEPs, and with agriculture and environment stakeholders.
Minister Heydon thanked the Commissioner for taking the time to visit Ireland and for engaging on Ireland’s request.
The Minister outlined:
“It is important that Commissioner Roswall has an opportunity today to visit and engage directly with farmers and stakeholders. I have committed to leaving no stone unturned in our ambition to secure a continued derogation. As I’ve explained previously, there are many challenging aspects in relation to renewal of the Nitrates Derogation, including the need to conduct detailed assessments to demonstrate compliance with the Habitats Directive, as sought by the Commission in June. Despite those challenges, today’s programme of engagements is a really positive step in my view.”
“Engagement will continue over the coming weeks on our request for continuation of the derogation as we seek to secure agreement, including on the required support from other member states. I am satisfied that Commissioner Roswall now has an excellent understanding of the Irish context, including our commitment to improving water quality, something that is critical to continuance of the derogation facility in the year ahead.”
