The row between Teagasc and the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) over the agriculture development authority's role in a nitrates directive controversy deepened yesterday when Teagasc accused the IFA of misrepresenting it.
On Monday, a delegation led by the IFA president, Mr John Dillon, picketed a Teagasc seminar in Wexford, and accused it of selling out farmers thought its support for the Government's position on the Nitrates Action Programme.
The IFA deputy president, Mr Ruaidhri Deasy, has also withdrawn from the Teagasc board in protest at "the refusal of the Teagasc organisation to release to its board the organisation's advice to Government on the implementation of the Nitrates Action Programme, and its implications for Irish farmers".
However, Teagasc yesterday said 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".
It added: "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," said a statement.
"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, and in January 2002, Teagasc recommended a whole-country approach as the best option for Ireland 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."
However, the draft programme, which contained a limit of 170kg organic nitrogen/ha, was prepared by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with the Department of Agriculture and Food. The Teagasc role was solely a consultative one.