DUP meet with Lord Rooker
01 July 2005
This week a delegation from the DUP met with Lord Rooker, the new Minister for DARD, and informed him of the importance of the agri-food industry to the economy of Northern Ireland. The DUP delegation included Jim Allister MEP and Westminster Agricultural Spokesperson William McCrea.
“Over the last two weeks the UK Government have been openly attacking the recently reformed CAP and I have concern that the recent publication of individual farm CAP payments by DARD was a further attempt to undermine the system. This was an important time to speak to the new Minister and remind him of the importance of the agri-food industry to the economy of the Province,” commented Jim Allister.
“We stressed to the Minister how agriculture has a greater importance to the economy of Northern Ireland compared to its importance in other regions of the UK. It is therefore important that the commitments made at European level for the new CAP deal are met and that Northern Ireland farm support is not further eroded.”
The DUP delegation also took the opportunity to raise other important issue affecting the agricultural industry including the implementation of the Nitrates Directive and associated Farm Nutrient Management Scheme, the manner in which cross compliance inspections are going to be carried out in all areas of Northern Ireland, beef exports and the movement of sheep from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland. William McCrea believes that Lord Rooker, responsible for both DARD and the DOE, is making changes to the way in which the Nitrates Directive will be implemented within Northern Ireland following the public consultation on the issue.
“The Minister reiterated that he is opposed to unnecessary red tape and gold plating of EU legislation and that he wanted a practical solution to the nitrates directive for Northern Ireland farmers. His decision to make public individual farm payments has certainly damaged the Ministers standing within the rural community. I hope in the near future the Minister can show his commitment to the Northern Ireland agri-food sector by announcing a more sensible approach for implementing the Nitrates Directive within the Province.”
