In this article, Roscommon-Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice explains why he thinks any “sensible” person should resist the new emissions directive.

This week, the European Commission proposed that farms with 150 or more livestock units would need a permit, under the EU’s Industrial Emissions Directive (IED).

This directive is the start of a slippery slope to give the EU the necessary legislative clout to hammer Irish agriculture.

Emissions Directive

A permit system for farming would be a total disaster for the Irish people.

The EU is using sleight of hand to set up what is essentially a licensing system for agriculture.

And once you have to be allowed to do your job, you can be controlled and worse – arrested. Farmers could essentially be “knocked off the road” under the proposed changes.

I suppose it is possible that small farmers are caught in the licensing net.

150 units does not mean 150 animals. And in my opinion, current regulations could be manipulated to categorize large animals as more than one livestock unit.

Attack on the family farm

It is the EU that is attacking family farming and we must oppose it. If this decision is not challenged, it will only serve to consolidate agriculture in the hands of big farmers.

We need to open our eyes and see where this movement takes us. There is no point in blindly falling into the trap set by the EU.

No acceptable threshold

I don’t believe there is an acceptable number for which permits should apply.

In my opinion, if we let that in a number, the game is over, because the goal posts will, as they always are, moved according to the EU agenda.

Without controls, the EU will control every aspect of Irish agriculture, from the type of land we farm to the number of units we farm.

This decision is a surefire way to allow the EU to impose on farmers whatever random rule they want.

It’s not about small Irish farmers versus big Irish farmers. This is all Irish farmers against the EU and its underhanded efforts to effectively corporatise Irish agriculture.

A real and negative impact

I warn against myopia in the face of change: let’s face it.

Just as the Habitats Directive has had a real and negative impact on the people of this country, so will this directive. Just look at the case of Lough Funshinagh.

The EU is playing the long game. The unintended consequences of these directives may not be felt until years after their implementation.

It is up to every citizen of this nation, and every common-sense politician and agricultural organization, to stand up and be counted now.

If we don’t, we will passively accept the end of agriculture in this country and relinquish control of our land and our collective future to the EU.

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