Farming bodies to appear before Dáil committee

Representatives from the IFA and the ICMSA - two of the country's largest farming organisations - will appear before an Oireachtas Committee today to express their views on the Nitrates Directive.

Introduced several years ago, the directive requires farmers to ensure that lakes and rivers are not polluted by fertilisers and manure.

It also dictates when land can be cultivated.

Farmer organisations say the stipulations are too restrictive - that they reduce yield and increase costs - and should be more flexible.