Dillon urges firm stance on nitrates

Ireland: The Government must not give an inch on the nitrates action programme it has formally submitted to the European Commission, Irish Farmers Association president John Dillon has urged.

Earlier this month, the Commission refused to accept the Government’s proposed action plan to implement the directive aimed at reducing water pollution from agriculture.

Mr Dillon, speaking after Environment Minister Dick Roche and Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan met with farm leaders, said any step back by the Government from its full and committed support for the action programme will be rightly seen by farmers as a damaging capitulation and sell-out of Irish agriculture.