Teagasc rejects IFA’s EU directive comments

Teagasc has rejected comments by IFA president John Dillon regarding its role in the implementation of the EU Nitrates Directive and in the preparation of the Government’s Action Programme.

Earlier this week Mr Dillon accused Teagasc of selling out farmers through what he claimed was its support for the Government’s position on a nitrates action programme.

In a detailed statement yesterday, Teagasc said Mr Dillon’s comments were a misrepresentation of Teagasc’s role and activities in relation to the directive and bear no relationship to the facts.

Teagasc said these unfounded comments are an unfair reflection on the professionalism of its staff and will add further to the confusion about the Nitrates Directive.

It said that it has not been and will not be involved in making any decisions in relation to the Nitrates Directive. Its role at all times has been a consultative one.

The statement said the Government has sought Teagasc expertise on a number of occasions over the past two years in relation to the Directive.

In late 2001, the Department of Agriculture and Food sought its views on the merits of opting for a whole country approach or for individual nitrate vulnerable zones in implementing the directive.

In January, 2002, Teagasc recommended a whole country approach as the best option for Ireland. This was based on the assumption that the option of 210kg organic nitrogen/ha, provided for in the directive, for the first four years of an action programme, would be available to Ireland.

Following the announcement by the minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government in July, 2003, that Ireland was opting for a whole country approach, Teagasc was asked to provide scientific advice to an expert committee established to develop a draft action programme.

Teagasc provided the best available scientific and specialist advice to the expert committee. This included results of Teagasc research on all aspects of nutrient management.

The action programme, which contained a limit of 170kg organic nitrogen/ha, was prepared by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture and Food. The Teagasc role was solely a consultative one.