Press Room

Macra na Feirme national president Colm Markey has welcomed the decision taken at today's meeting of the Board of Teagasc to establish a special sub-committee which will review the new report from Teagasc scientific staff in relation to the implementation of the Nitrates Directive.

Mr Markey said that the establishment of a special sub-committee represented 'a light at the end of the tunnel' in relation to the whole Nitrates Directive debacle.

'I am hopeful that this sub-committee will prove an effective structure to allow the Board and Teagasc's scientific staff work more closely together to resolve outstanding issues,' he said.

'There is a need in the whole nitrates debate to recognise a much broader range of factors that influence the effective and responsible use of fertilizers. The new document goes some way to take these into account but needs to go further', he said.

-ends-