Agriculture & fisheries set for more Sinn Fein neglect - Allister
06 October 2008
Commenting on the arrangements being put in place while Minister Gildernew is off on maternity leave, Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister said farming and fishing was set to endure fresh neglect.
In a statement he said:-
"Minister Gildernew says she will look after the vital agriculture and fisheries portfolio by receiving a briefing half a day a week and by farming out her departmental responsibilities to the motley crew of Sinn Fein Ministers. This is not acceptable.
In fishing we are approaching the vital weeks in the lead up to the crucial quota- setting negotiations in Brussels in December. In agriculture we are still waiting, weeks later, for a package for flooding losses and CAP reform proceeds. Now we face months of stagnation with no Minister at the helm. The thought, for example, of Gerry Kelly or Catrina Ruane providing good government for the agricultural community is a joke.
An absentee Minister is not what the promise of devolution assured the community. Poor as Gildernew has been for agriculture, there needs to be someone in charge, not months of drift and neglect. Sadly, this is what Sinn Fein misrule looks like."
