The row between the Government and the farm organisations over the implementation of the nitrates directive deepened yesterday with the withdrawal of the Irish Co-operative Organisations Society (ICOS) from the national partnership talks.
ICOS is the umbrella group for the country's co-operatives and therefore represents not only farmers but a large segment of the agri-business sector.
However, there was some good news for the Government as the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) indicated that it would not be leaving the negotiating table and said time was being wasted playing a "blame game".
In his statement last evening ICOS president Pádraig Gibbons announced the suspension of its involvement in the talks because of the way the nitrates regulations were being introduced.
"There is strong anger in the farming and agri-business sectors about the manner in which the nitrates issue is being handled," he said. "On the 27th January, Minister for the Environment Dick Roche TD announced the deferral of the implementation of Part 3 of the regulations dealing with nitrogen and phosphorus limits, pending a review of advice provided by Teagasc," he said. "Yesterday, the Department of the Environment confirmed to the Oireachtas Environment Committee that nitrogen limits are not currently part of this review.
"I find it unacceptable that there is a lack of commitment to review nitrogen limits, in addition to phosphorus limits. Nitrogen limits must also be reviewed. In the absence of acceptable changes that would put in place practical limits for nitrogens and phosphates, and which recognises current production systems, tens of thousands of farmers, across the country, in rural environmental protection schemes (REPS), dairy, pig, and other sectors, will suffer a severe income drop," said Mr Gibbons
"This cannot be tolerated. ICOS is suspending involvement in the partnership talks until we are satisfied that the Government is taking account of the concerns of farmers and agri-business on the issue," he concluded.
The president of the ICMSA, Jackie Cahill, said there was a noticeable lack of solutions being brought to the table over the nitrates directive and he had received personal assurance from the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan, on the issue.
Mr Cahill called for a calm and logical examination of the way forward and said that his association believed that there had already been "too much blustering and posturing. Farmers were interested in being allowed continue to farm and not who-said-what-to-whom".
He said the Minister could not change the law by issuing a press statement and he called on Mr Roche to defer the introduction of the regulations by bringing in amended legislation.
After that, Teagasc could provide the evidence to allow a substantial overhaul of the deferred regulations.