FG TD slams lack of information on EU Nitrates Directive

Fine Gael TD Denis Naughten has slammed the Government failure to launch an information campaign on the implementation of the EU Nitrates Directive.

The legislation, which is designed to protect rivers and lakes from agricultural pollution, introduces new restrictions on the amount of harmful fertilisers that farmers can spread on their lands.

Farmers could face six months in jail if they fail to comply with the directive, which comes into effect from midnight tonight.

Mr Naughten has accused the Government of making a mockery of the law by failing to inform farmers about how to implement it.

"The whole idea of the Nitrates Directive is to protect water sources and water quality," he said.

"You're not going to protect that if farmers don't know what rules and regulations they have to comply with."

"They're liable to up to six months in jail if they don't comply with it and yet they haven't been given as much as one sheet of information in relation to what the new rules and regulations actually mean in reality."