The United Farmers' Association, which has been under severe criticism since one of its leading officials blamed much of the illegal "angel dust" activities on farmers from minority religions, is to hold an emergency meeting tomorrow in Athlone to consider the issue, Sean MacConnell, Agriculture Correspondent, writes.
Mr Paddy Boyhan, member of the UFA's national executive, made the remarks on Pat Kenny's Today programme on RTE Radio One. He said many of the farmers who had come before the courts in connection with "angel dust" were from the minority community.
Mr Boyhan apologised for his remarks at the end of the programme, during which many callers accused him of sectarianism. The president of the UFA, Mr Michael O'Callaghan, has dissociated himself from Mr Boyhan's remarks.