Opposition accuses Government of 'stoking up fears' over Nature Restoration Law

Labour's Alan Kelly said if Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil did not want the European Commission's proposed Nature Restoration Law to pass, they should bring down the Government

A number of Irish MEPs, including Fianna Fáil's Billy Kelleher and Fine Gael's Colm Markey, have pushed back on supporting the proposal, claiming it would disproportionately affect Irish agriculture negatively. File picture

Opposition parties have lashed out at the Government for its perceived incoherent position on the European Commission's proposed Nature Restoration Law, accusing the three Coalition partners of going in different directions.

Despite Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue and Heritage Minister Malcolm Noonan telling the Dáil that "scaremongering" and misinformation around the impact of the proposal in Ireland is unwarranted, various opposition parties poured scorn on what they called inconsistent messaging in recent weeks, particularly around rewetting.