Teagasc defends nitrates advice

TEAGASC has insisted that as an independent body, it has provided the best scientific advice to the two Government departments directly concerned with the nitrates directive.

It followed a protest by an estimated 500 farmers over what they termed as “the ambiguity and contradictory advice” given by Teagasc leadership to the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Environment on the key EU measure to protect waterways against pollution from agriculture.

The IFA, which organised a protest outside a Teagasc board meeting in Mount Juliet, Co Kilkenny, said this advice had weakened Ireland’s position and would result in serious damage to Irish agriculture and, in particular, the intensive livestock sectors.