Ireland could be fined on nitrates by October

THE European Commission could move to fine Ireland next October for not implementing the Nitrates Directive, according to the Department of the Environment.

Ireland has until March 22 to respond to the Commission’s charge that our proposed nitrates action programme is deficient.

“If the Commission is not satisfied with the response it receives, it can elevate that action to a reasoned opinion, which would be the next stage of legal proceedings and the final stage before going to court,” according to the principal officer at the Department, Mr John Sadlier.