IFA will defend Nitrates rule-busting farmers

AN IFA national officer has said the Association will be in court with the best barrister in the country to defend the first Irish farmer for breach of the new Nitrates regulations.

Tom Dunne, Chairman of IFA's National Industrial Committee, indicated IFA's legal case would be built around inadequate advice from Government agencies to farmers on how to comply with the Nitrates Directive.

"They are obliged to educate farmers on the Directive, and we believe that it is not workable as it is drafted", he said.