Pressure rises over nitrates law

PRESSURE intensified yesterday to have changes made to the nitrates regulations which come into force next Wednesday.

Fine Gael spokesman Denis Naughten, TD, said the news from Teagasc that vital elements of the scientific evidence it provided to the Government was omitted in the final statutory instrument, raises serious questions for the environment and agriculture ministers, Dick Roche and Mary Coughlan.

“The ministers must now clarify their role and that of their departments in this whole debacle which has led to a serious chasm in the relationship between farmers and Teagasc,” he said.