Farming falls to ludicrous EU nitrates order

THE imminent farming crisis as a result of the nitrates directive is a far greater scandal than mere official mismanagement in Ireland.

The whole EU directive is in fact based on a ludicrous misinterpretation of the relevant science.

Yet the effect of the Government’s legislation, temporarily suspended, will virtually destroy internationally competitive dairy farming in Munster - despite the fact that significant nitrate pollution of drinking water is extremely rare, and falling.