Directive has only widened divisions

THE Nitrates Directive has divided the farmer and his agricultural advisor, and driven IFA, ICOS and Macra out of the National Partnerships talks, and widened the gulf between ICMSA and IFA.

Instead of healing the divisions, most of the combatants seem to be looking for scapegoats, to shelter behind the idea that someone else is to blame.

Much energy and effort went into negative initiatives, such as the votes of no confidence in the director and chairman of Teagasc.

Leadership would be better employed in finding a middle ground for a common-sense solution, before relations between those involved deteriorate further.

That will require Teagasc scientists, board members, ministers for environment and agriculture, and farming leaders to admit they ‘took their eye off the nitrates ball’ to greater or lesser degrees over the directive’s 14-year history.

Perhaps Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan can lead the way to a resolution, having shown awareness of the difficulties for farmers.

However, she will have the difficult task of explaining the contradiction of preaching greater competitiveness to farmers - to survive in free trading - while imposing draconian restrictions on farm production.