Department of Agriculture unhurried over scheme, claims ICMSA

THE Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association has accused the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of foot-dragging over the proposed agri-environmental scheme.

ICMSA Farm Services and Environment Committee chairman John Comer said the department was displaying a lack of urgency despite the fact that negotiations have been ongoing for three months.

However, a senior department official, Michael O’Donovan, told a Teagasc conference in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, last week that Ireland has submitted a plan for a new scheme to the European Commission.