“I know farmers and contractors who have taken out loans of thousands in recent months for a new tanker and now they’re told this is going to change,” Healy-Rae told the Irish Farmers Journal.

A ban on splash plates is among the options considered to reduce harmful ammonia emissions.

A submission by Teagasc to the Government’s consultation on Ireland’s clean air strategy shows that at least half of the country’s slurry would need to be spread with trailing shoes to meet EU ammonia targets.

Will we export it for nothing to other European countries where they have little or no regulations?

Healy-Rae said replacing splash plate tankers would put “extreme financial pressure” on farmers and contractors. He also raised the risk of pollution displacement if older equipment is disposed of overseas.

“Will we export it for nothing to other European countries where they have little or no regulations?” the TD asked.

Healy-Rae disagrees with the position of the Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI), which is open to phasing out splash plates if grants are made available to its members, because he fears this would increase the price of more environmentally-friendly equipment, such as dribble bars and trailing shoes.

Healy-Rae said he had raised this issue with Minister for the Environment Denis Naughten, who has responsibility for the Government’s upcoming clean air strategy.

Minister Naughten said on Thursday that no decision had yet been made. “I’m open to all solutions,” he said.

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Teagasc and IFA advise against blanket splash plate ban