Stormont Executive short-changing local farmers -Allister
09 February 2009
“In advance of tomorrow’s meeting between NI Executive Ministers and Commissioner Fischer Boel, I wish to express my disappointment, not just about how long it has taken the Executive to respond to the dioxin crisis, but the miserly nature of the compensation package upon which they are seeking the Commission’s support.
The Republic of Ireland submitted its application for aid, on the basis of 100% compensation on 17th December 2008 and had it approved on 24th December 2008. Here we are, almost two months later looking for support for a package based only on 25% compensation.
I wish to make it very clear that from my meetings with Commissioner Fischer Boel over this issue, the Commission will fund its share of a 100% compensation scheme, if asked. She has made it expressly clear to me that having co-financed to the tune of 50% of what the Republic sought, the Commission will put the same on offer to Northern Ireland (Under Regulation 1234/2007 Art 191 the maximum EU contribution is 50%). The Republic has had a €20.6m disposal scheme co-financed.
Yet, shamefully, the NI Executive is presently only suggesting a compensation scheme to meet 25% of losses, of which the Executive would only put up half of the money. So, instead of tapping into the 50% total costs which are available from Europe, they are looking for only 12.5%. The affected farmers and processing plant, now swollen by dairy losses, through no fault of their own, have had 100% losses, but this Executive suggests only 25% compensation, with the innocent farmers and processors bearing the huge outstanding 75% loss. Even at its worst, uncaring Direct Rule would not have short-changed local farmers in this penny-pinching way.
So, I am calling on the NI Executive to go to Brussels tomorrow to seek and undoubtedly get the full compensation aid which is on offer, instead of the miserly 25% which they are suggesting.”
