Gildernew ploughing money into Republic comes under attack
27 March 2010
On the back of the controversy about extensive DARD funding to the Republic’s primary ploughing event, TUV Leader Jim Allister has made strong criticisms of Minister Gilernew.
In a statement Mr Allister said:-
“Minister Gildernew’s handling of the lavishing of Northern Ireland taxpayer’s money on the Republic’s ploughing contest, in contrast to the meagre grants to such events in Northern Ireland, confirmed for many her unfitness to hold her present office.
“Her partisan proclamation of herself as an ‘Irish Minister’, when challenged to justify her discriminatory approach, demonstrates that despite the pledge of office which she took to promote the interests of Northern Ireland and despite the fact that she is supposed to be a UK Minister, Ms Gildernew is first and foremost a rabid republican, interested above all in peddling her political agenda.
“A Minister who plays politics with farming is not serving the industry’s needs. Yet, even on the 2nd tranche of the Farm Modernisation Scheme she has deliberately imported disadvantage to lowland farmers by weighting the aid in favour of the most nationalist areas.
“Bringing DARD under local control through devolution has in truth produced little tangible gain. In the main over zealous officials and their bureaucratic mindset still dominate, but where the Minister has made a difference, more often than not it has been a negative impact because of the dogma which she pursues.
“Agriculture has been allowed to drift from one crisis to another. Still we lack a clear vision for our red meat sector and dairy farmers have to ride the market rollercoaster with little long-term planning. Restructuring of the industry is often promised, but never sustained with tangible help. Likewise, the poultry sector has been left to face the trauma of the new cage regime without help, while even the cash-strapped Republic can help our competitors. Likewise, the necessary Rose Energy scheme has had no help from the Minister.
“So, the verdict on Minister Gildernew is far from positive and when she indulges in political funding and neglects frontline needs, then it diminishes further.”
