A Leitrim campaign group is urging other Councils around the country to follow the lead of Leitrim County Council in banning the use of glyphosate-based weed killers in public areas.
Councillors agreed to the ban at a meeting this week and it makes Leitrim just the second Council in the country to do so after South County Dublin.
The chemical which is the primary ingredient in the weedkiller Roundup is the source of much controversy due to concerns over its risk to human health.
Mary-Rose Geoghegan is the spokesperson for Chemical Free Leitrim which collected over 1400 signatures in the county to call on the Council to ban it.
She is welcoming this week’s decision which she says is a significant step and she hopes other Councils will follow suit:
However, the Irish Farmers Association in Leitrim says there could be an over-reaction to this issue.
Speaking to Ocean FM today, Chairperson of the IFA in Leitrim James Gallagher said that we need to wait for the facts on glyphosate and its impact on human health.
He claims there could be an element of scaremongering taking place:
