The Taoiseach is to invite the European Commissioner for the Environment to Ireland over the ending of Ireland's nitrates derogation agreement.
Leo Varadkar will write to Virginijus Sinkevičius inviting him to meet him, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue and a delegation from the farming sector or to meet sector representatives in Brussels.
The development follows a meeting with Mr Varadkar and the Irish Farmers Association.
Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney, Minister of State Martin Heydon and Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey also attended the meeting.
Speaking afterwards, IFA president Tim Cullinan said the meeting was positive and Mr Varadkar "was clear he understood the massive impact that any cut in the Nitrates Derogation limit would have on Irish farmers and the wider sector".
The development comes after Minister McConalogue told the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee he is not going back to Brussels to reopen discussion on the nitrates derogation.
He emphasised to the the committee that this position was clear and the Commission said there is no possibility of reopening and renegotiating the derogation.
Asked by Senator Victor Boyhan for clarity on the point, after the IFA had requested the minister to do so, Mr McConalogue said: "We're clear on that position."
He said the European Commission was clear there is no possibility to reopen and renegotiate the derogation and that Ireland must work within the existing terms.
Regulations aimed at reducing water pollution from nitrates mean that, across Europe, farmers are only allowed to produce 170kg of organic nitrogen per hectare on their farms.
Ireland's derogation agreement with the commission allowed a minority of more intensively stocked farmers to produce 250kg per hectare.
However, because of the water quality issues, the limit for Irish derogation farmers will now fall to 220kg per hectare.
The reduced limit will be in place until the end of the current nitrates agreement Ireland has with the Commission on 31 December 2025.
Mr McConalogue said there are over 3,000 farmers in derogation particularly impacted by the change in upper limits.
He said the Government will seek to see how to support farmers at this time.
He also told the committee there was "some small capacity", based on data and evidence, for minor amendments to the map of the area that will see its derogation limit fall to 220kg.
Mr McConalogue said he is seeking clarity on what minor adjustments are possible by the end of the month.
He added that the upper 250kg limit will still be permitted in some areas.
Minister McConalogue was not available for an interview this evening, but sources close to him said the Government position is clear that the commission is not open to renegotiation of the derogation.
The source said that Minister McConalogue has already invited Commissioner Sinkovicius to Ireland and the Taoiseach's invite will assist with that.
