DOE has anti-farming agenda
20 May 2005
The DUP has accused the DOE of having an anti-farming agenda and believes that it is stabbing the farming community in the back at every opportunity. The claims were made by the Jim Allister following news that the DOE have hiked the price of planning fees.
Mr Allister commented, “The DOE this week have hiked the price of planning permission, particularly for large agricultural buildings such as poultry houses. Instead of trying to get practical ways to deal with the planning problems associated with the introduction of the Farm Nutrient Management Scheme, they are simply taking advantage to the situation to increase costs.”
Jim Allister also slammed the DOE for enforcing stricter environmental rules under IPPC regulations than is likely to be introduced under the Nitrates Directive. “Under the Nitrates Directive, pig and poultry farmers would have had until 2010 before farm phosphate balances are introduced. Now the Environmental Heritage Service is forcing the larger pig and poultry farmers to carry out individual field soil analysis before they are allowed to spread on land. This will effectively ban the spreading of pig and poultry slurry on land in a very short space of time. Never mind joined up Government between Departments such as DOE and DARD, there is no evidence of joined up Government within DOE. This was evident is a recent briefing paper produced by the DOE which resisted farmers being exempt from a new Ground Water Directive being passed through the European Parliament. I question why the DARD were not asked for an opinion on this important issue and why DOE were opposed to helping the farming community within Northern Ireland.
“It seems only logical for the DOE to implement similar rules for IPPC as will be implemented under the Nitrates Directive. It is vital that the environmental regulations under IPPC are put on hold until there is a conclusion to the Nitrates consultation. Currently there is a joint working group looking at alternative uses for slurry. This group are simply wasting their time if Government are going to effectively ban the spreading of pig slurry on land from 2007.”
Jim Allister believes that the way in which parts of the DOE are currently operating is an early test for the new Environmental Minister. “Lord Rooker has already claimed that he is opposed to Gold plating of EU legislation but is now over a Department which is doing just that. I hope that he can live up to his word and secure a future for the intensive pig and poultry sector within
