Allister expresses concern over handling of Nitrates discussions
06 January 2006
Following a meeting with the DARD officials who have been negotiating the action programme for the implementation of the Nitrates Directive with Brussels, Jim Allister MEP expressed concern about how matters had been handled. The DUP delegation meeting DARD on the issue included agricultural spokesman Edwin Poots.
Mr Allister said, “At the inception of this process the industry was promised that the key stakeholders would be kept informed and their views listened to as matters progressed with Brussels. I am dismayed to discover that the Stakeholders Group established for that purpose has not been called together to meet DARD since November 2004. Meanwhile DARD, along with DOE, have been putting proposals and making concessions in their dealings with the Commission. Not only have the stakeholders been ignored but members thereof have been refused copies of the proposal put to the Commission in November, and since changed following a December meeting in Brussels. This is intolerable. DARD has, it seems, held meetings with one member of the stakeholders group, namely the UFU, but other members have been shut out. Why? Many heads are better than one, so why have all interests not been included and brought along? While a stakeholders meeting is now planned for the end of January, I fear they are going to be presented with a fait accompli, rather than involved in a meaningful engagement capable of influencing the outcome with Brussels.
The industry has been treated shamefully. It is not enough to consult with the UFU, whose judgement is not always faultless. In the current proposed action programme, there is a proposal for the ban on spreading both fertiliser and slurry on slopes with a gradient of greater than 20%. This will impact on many farmers throughout Northern Ireland who farm land described by the Government as steeply sloping. This is one of several significant changes made to the action programme over recent months, without consultation with the stakeholder group that will have a negative impact on the Northern Ireland farming industry.
The second issue which dismays me is that the non-involvement of the Minister, Lord Rooker who is in charge of both DARD and the DOE. However well intentioned and able Civil servants may be, ultimately in a negotiation with Brussels political clout and leverage is called for. But, alas, we have a Minister who has never been to Brussels and seems happy to let this matter drift towards a less good settlement than I believe could have been obtained.”
The DUP delegation also raised concerns regarding the Farm Nutrient Management Scheme and pressed for the scheme to be extended to cover the roofing of yards and the purchasing of farm machinery that allows for more efficient spreading of slurry. Edwin Poots MLA commented, “During the meeting we discussed a number of technical issues regarding the Farm Nutrient Management Scheme. We believe that the scheme should be extended over a number of years to give sufficient time for the industry to prepare for the introduction of the Nitrates Action program. We are also calling for the introduction of a roofing scheme for farmyards to reduce the amount of dirty water that has to be stored. It is vital that DARD advise farmers if such a scheme is going to be launched to enable farmers to plan what best suits their holding.”
