This article is from page 51 of the 2007-08-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 51 JPG
FARMING – organisations were rocked last week when the new Minister for the Environment, John Gormley TD, reignited the flames of the most controversial argument in KACO DOOMED UOOUNOT OTK KO Ms Following nine months of threats, boycotts and calls for numerous res- ignations in 2006 – the Nitrate scan- dal seemed to have diffused earlier this year with a compromise involv- ing some derogations for farmers. This week however, the ‘Nitrate- gate’ scandal is once again public enemy number | for farming or- ganisations following the announce- ment by the Minister, to increase the maximum penalties, which can be applied in the case of offences under
the Nitrates Regulations.
The new Regulations increase the maximum penalties prescribed by the Nitrates Regulations from the previ- ous maximum of €3,000 and/or 6 months imprisonment for a summary offence, €5,000 and/or 3 months 1m- prisonment for summary offences, and €500,000 and/or | year impris- Oyaveatosnlmm Kolar sen lee:le) ome eco oKe
This has prompted a furious re- sponse from farm leaders who have accused the minister of scapegoating farmers. “The vast majority of farm- ers are fully compliant with water pollution legislation, and have made or are making major ongoing invest- ments to meet rising environmental standards,’ said Padraig Walshe, IFA President.
“The reality is that farmers have
invested over €1.4bn in the past decade in upgrading their waste management facilities. No farmers set out to pollute rivers with slurry. The same cannot be said for many local authorities and some industrial plants who actually have licences to pollute from the EPA.”
The ICMSA accused Minister Gormley of showing “astonishing bias” on water pollution issue.
“Farmers will have read Minister Gormley’s remarks in the papers to- day with bemusement,” said ICSMA president, Jackie Cahill.“We have, yet again, the very unedifying sight of a government minister attempting to make the farming community the scapegoats for water pollution.
The ICMSA has repeatedly drawn attention to the fact that, even by the
Government’s own admission, water pollution arises from a number of causes, prominent amongst which are the actions of developers and the inaction’s of local authorities.”
The ICSA has attacked the an- nouncement by reminding Minister Gormley of the role of the local au- thorities in water pollution issues.
“The penalties, which include a maximum fine of €500,000 and a year in jail, are totally disproportion- ate to the offence,’ said Malcolm Thompson, ICSA president.