Press Room

Macra na Feirme national president Colm Markey has said the decision by the Department of the Environment to proceed with the imposition of the statutory instrument to give expression to the Nitrates Directive while simultaneously telling the farming social partners that the issue would be dealt with in partnership was beyond belief.

Mr. Markey also said that he was stunned by the move by the Department of Agriculture to take out advertisements advising farmers how to comply with the statutory instrument while partnership talks were actually taking place.

'The most forceful point made at today's meeting, which was chaired by an official from the Taoiseach's Department, was that the Department of the Environment had treated the farming social partners with contempt during the process of implementing the directive and yet they proceeded to throw petrol on the flames with today's move,' he said.

Mr. Markey said his organisation was suspending its involvement in the talks until he was satisfied that the Government were serious about addressing farmer concerns.

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