Teagasc Rejects Dillon Statement on Nitrates Directive

26 May 2004

Teagasc has rejected comments by the President of IFA, John Dillon, regarding the organisation’s role in the implementation of the EU Nitrates Directive and in the preparation of the Government’s Action Programme. Teagasc wishes to state that Mr Dillon’s comments are a misrepresentation of the organisation’s role and activities in relation to the Directive and bear no relationship to the facts.

These unfounded comments are an unfair reflection on the professionalism of Teagasc staff and will add further to the confusion about the Nitrates Directive. Therefore, it is important that the factual position regarding Teagasc involvement is stated.

Teagasc categorically states that it has not been and will not be involved in making any decisions in relation to the Nitrates Directive. Its role at all times has been a consultative one.

The Government has sought the help of Teagasc expertise on a number of occasions over the past two years in relation to the Directive.

• In late 2001, the Department of Agriculture and Food sought the views of Teagasc on the relative merits of opting for a whole country approach or for individual nitrate vulnerable zones in implementing the Directive. In January 2002, Teagasc recommended a whole country approach as the best option for Ireland. This was based on the assumption that the option of 210kg organic nitrogen/ha, provided for in the Directive, for the first four years of an action programme would be available to Ireland.

• Following the announcement by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in July 2003 that Ireland was opting for a whole country approach, Teagasc was asked to provide scientific advice to an expert committee established to develop a draft action programme. Teagasc provided the best available scientific and specialist advice to the expert committee. This included the results of Teagasc research on all aspects of nutrient management. The draft action programme, which contained a limit of 170kg organic nitrogen/ha, was prepared by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture and Food. The Teagasc role was solely a consultative one.

Teagasc has been informed that, as a result of various European Court decisions, the option of a limit of 210kg of organic nitrogen/ha is not available to countries which had not implemented an action programme before December 1995.

The role of Teagasc in the Nitrates Directive was discussed in detail by the Teagasc Board on a number of occasions. The Director of Teagasc, Jim Flanagan, provided a detailed report to the Chairman, Dr Tom O’Dwyer, on the advice given by Teagasc on the preparation of the draft action programme. The Chairman made a comprehensive report to the Board. The Board collectively expressed satisfaction with the level of detail provided.

Teagasc wishes to stress that its advice on this, as on all other issues on agriculture and food, is based on the best scientific information. The organisation’s research, advisory and training programmes are carried out under the guidance and with the approval of the Teagasc Board. The results of all research programmes, including environmental research, are in the public domain.

When asked to do so, Teagasc will continue to provide the best scientific advice to the Government. However, Teagasc again emphasises that it has not and will not be involved in making any decisions in relation to the implementation of the Nitrates Directive.