Walsh says Nature Restoration Law is good for Ireland but Fitzmaurice brands it a disgrace

Local MEP Maria Walsh has welcomed the adoption of the Nature Restoration Law by the European Parliament this week. The Shrule native voted against her EPP Group in the chamber and said the successful passing of the law was a good day for our environment, for biodiversity, for our waterways, and for our future. She called on the Irish government to negotiate dedicated funding for Irish farmers, outside of CAP, in order to make nature restoration a realistic possibility.

However, the decision of the parliament has been labelled as 'disgraceful' by Michael Fitzmaurice, the Independent TD for Roscommon-Galway. "Today's vote is a direct attack on farmers in peatland, reclaimed and hill regions. It's a national disgrace that every single one of our MEPs voted for this measure. I understand there will be amendments forthcoming and the wording is to be finalised but at the end of the day, they have shown their allegiance to their EU masters.

"Once again, Irish politicians are eager to play the 'model students' in Europe, ignoring the people they represent," said Fitzmaurice.

The legislation, which intends to restore Europe's natural habitats and biodiversity, has faced staunch resistance from a cross-section of TDs in Ireland, and politicians across Europe. However, the proposed laws were accepted by the Parliament with 336 votes in favour, 300 against, and 13 abstentions. Fitzmaurice commented: “If Irish MEPs truly represented their constituents' interests, this measure could have been rejected, paving the way for a more favourable agreement.”

He added: "Amendments at this stage resemble an attempt to turn back the tide. We would be in a far stronger negotiating position had the measure been rejected, and the Commission sent back to rethink their proposal."

Fitzmaurice felt especially let down that all 13 Irish MEPs supported the proposed Nature Restoration Law. Fine Gael, members of the European People's Party (EPP), voted against the EPP's advice. He emphasised that the Irish MEPs' support for the law overlooks the concerns of Irish farmers and rural communities.

However, Walsh stated the issue was too important for political point scoring and said she voted against the wishes of the EPP for the good of her constituents.

“As an MEP, I have a responsibility to vote for the good of my constituency, while also being cognisant that this Law impacts constituency, country and continent. I voted, essentially, to keep the proposals alive. This whole process has been politically contentious from the outset and I abhor the ‘shaming’ and the ‘us vs them’ narrative presented by activists and indeed other MEPs. This is far too important to use the debate to score political points against each other,” she said. 

"My vote was reflective of the need to protect our planet for food security, biodiversity and climate change, but not at the expense of our young farmers and our rural communities,” she stressed before adding that clarity is required around the voluntary or involuntary rewetting of land, and funding is a major issue that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

“We keep moving the goalposts, especially for young farmers, and it is not good enough that our young EU farmers have not received a direct plan from the AGRI or ENVI Committees in the European Parliament, from the Irish government, or from the Commission and Council. If the Nature Restoration Law is to succeed, then there’s no doubt that amendments are needed, but rejecting the text outright simply isn’t the answer,” she added.