Ministers urged to review nitrates rules

GOVERNMENT bungling on the nitrates directive must come to an end, Fine Gael warned as it urged the Environment and Agriculture Ministers to undertake a full review of the rules, based on Teagasc’s scientific advice.

Party spokesman Denis Naughten said a meeting of the Oireachtas Environment Committee this week recommended that Environment Minister Dick Roche direct Teagasc to review nitrates as well as phosphates rules. He urged Mr Roche to follow this recommendation.

“Government bungling on this issue and the blame game they have attempted to engage in would almost be laughable were it not for the fact that the future of Irish farmers is under threat from the draconian regulations that are proposed,” he said.