Longford MEP Ciaran Mullooly has called on the Irish Government to fast-track the EU backed fertiliser support scheme and pay the maximum national top up. The EU has allocated €15.38 million for Ireland, and a 200% top up would bring the total to €46.15 million. Mullooly says farmers need an opening date, clear eligibility rules, and a firm payment timetable before the February 28, 2027 deadline. The MEP also wants an urgent review of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) as applied to fertiliser. Farm groups estimate CBAM will cost EU farmers almost €900 million in 2026, with an extra €120 per tonne on non-EU calcium ammonium nitrate. Mullooly argues that adding carbon costs to an essential food production input while offering emergency support is contradictory. The article is relevant to anyone tracking CBAM implementation, agricultural carbon policy, and how EU climate measures interact with food security.
