Farming Life interview
08 May 2009
Background:
I am the youngest of four, born at Crossgar, Co Down to farming parents. I lived there till I was 9 years old, then moved to a farm at Craigantlet, between Dundonald and Bangor. Ours was a mixed farm, mainly dairy and pigs, and later beef cattle. Naturally, I did my share of work on the farm, especially during the Summer months.
I attended Dundonald Primary School before moving to Regent House in Newtownards. After completing my A-Levels in 1971, I studied law at Queen’s University, where I became involved in student politics. After graduating, I passed the Bar exams and proceeded into private practice as a barrister.
I am married to Ruth who I met while at Queen’s, and who hails from County Fermanagh, in 1978.We have 3 children, a daughter and 2 sons. I live in the heart of County Antrim near the village of Kells.
Politics:
I first became interested in politics at Queen’s. The early ‘70s, of course, were very turbulent times and QUB was highly politicised. I was involved in the formation of the DUP at Queens and thereafter at constituency level. In 1980 I took time out from the law to become Ian Paisley’s PA in Europe, and from this stemmed my interest in European affairs. I continued in my work in Brussels & Strasbourg until I was elected for North Antrim to the Northern Ireland Assembly in October 1982. When that Assembly collapsed in 1986 I drifted out of politics and back to the law, as, by then, I had 3 small children to support. Happily, things worked out well for me at the Bar and in 2001 I was elevated to be a QC, doing mostly criminal defence work and planning law.
In 2004 I had the opportunity to return to politics when I was invited to stand for Europe. Having topped the poll, I have been MEP for Northern Ireland since 2004.
Key agricultural issues:
The issues within modern farming and the wider agri-food industry are many and complex. Nonetheless, the key issues as I see it, are well documented in my manifesto. I believe farm families require a champion in Europe who will fight their corner, whether it is against the introduction of more red tape, or to represent their best interests in negotiations on major policy changes such as CAP reform.
Our dairy sector clearly requires more Government assistance to assist with the major restructuring of the industry, to assist it to become more competitive. In relation to Rural Development, farmers need a better deal than they are receiving at present. Farmers are collectively contributing £171 million into a £500 million Rural Development Programme, while an all too miserly proportion of funds has been earmarked to farm modernisation and other measures which will boost modernisation at farm level –clearly, this has to change. Our poultry industry needs Government approval for the Rose Energy project to proceed as soon as possible, and the appropriate level of grant aid to be made available for the industry to proceed with this huge investment. Our red meat sector requires fair play in terms of the prices producers receive from processors vis-à-vis their counterparts in Great Britain. Finally, one of the most urgent issues today is to ensure all meat imports comply with those very high and costly standards imposed by Europe on domestic producers, which is what the Brazilian Beef campaign was all about.
Effect of leaving DUP
In Europe there was no detrimental impact from me leaving the DUP, because I merely continued to sit in Parliament as an independent, which I had always been, and I continued on the committees to which I was already elected. If anything, being a totally unfettered voice has given me the freedom to properly scrutinise and criticise the Sinn Fein Agriculture Minister, which a DUP member would be inhibited in doing because Sinn Fein is the DUP’s partner in government.
Typical day etc
I find it easiest to describe a typical month. I spend a week a month (Monday to Thursday) at the plenary sessions of the Parliament in Strasbourg, and two of the remaining three weeks in Brussels at committees, or meeting the Commission, lobbying etc. The fourth week I am usually back home, in addition to the Friday and weekend of every week, meeting constituents in my office or out and about on fact finding visits. My full-time office in Belfast is open every day and is serviced by 4 professional staff, including an agricultural expert.
A typical day in Brussels might be getting into the office around 8am, dealing with post and emails (I have a full-time assistant there), proceeding to Committee, which could be either Agriculture, Fisheries or Constitutional Affairs. I generally speak on the issues on the agenda which interest me, having sought opinions from affected sectors back home on any relevant issues. Committees generally sit from 9am to 6.30pm, with lunch break. Over lunch, I would typically check into the office in Belfast to deal with issues arising there. After Committee, or having met lobby groups or someone from the Commission, I tend to work in my office till 8.30 or 9pm.
Highlight:
There have been many, but if I was to choose one it would be finally winning the breakthrough, after months of relentless campaigning, when the commission imposed the ban on Brazilian beef imports. The unfairness of flooding our markets with meat falling well short of EU standards was immense, yet it took heavy lobbying and a visit to Brazil to finally get the Commission to act.
Low point:
Seeing milk prices plummet, but being unable for months to persuade the Commission to reintroduce export refunds, because it offended their dogma. Eventually, we prevailed but meantime prices had gone lower than they needed and farmers lost heavily. Also, seeing the Parliament foolishly embrace the Pesticides Directive, with inadequate regard to the impact on the agri sector, was a big disappointment.
Main issues 2009-14
Both agriculture and fisheries are facing big changes, with another major CAP reform intended to come into effect post-2013, while a review of the Common Fisheries Policy will also occur in the next Parliamentary term. It is my view that Europe needs to rediscover the original principles of the CAP, in particular to value the availability of locally produced food, whilst ensuring producers receive an adequate income in return. Preparations will gather pace for the phasing out of milk quotas across Europe, which, combined with the removal of other support instruments will present new challenges for the dairy sector. That is why it is imperative that our agri-food industry receives its fair share of rural development funds to assist with boosting its competitiveness.
I am confident that the spotlight will more steadily be brought to bear on current marked imbalances within the supply chain, namely the dominance of retailers which often comes at great expense to producers and processors. A sustainable agri-food industry is one where producers and processors make adequate returns to be able to invest in their future. It will take dogged determination and commitment to shape these matters in a way which best suits the interests of Northern Ireland.
On the constitutional front, the continuing efforts to foist the Lisbon Treaty upon us will continue to be a major issue. We do not need this Treaty and its political apparatus of Statehood. Instead, I believe in maximising the preservation of national powers and control, whereas Lisbon will further denude the member states of control. This is not the direction Europe should be headed and, therefore, I am committed to continue the battle on these issues. I look forward to continuing in my efforts on behalf of Northern Ireland’s farmers and their families in the next Parliamentary term, –at home and abroad.
