Allister opposed to release of subsidy information
01 September 2006
Jim Allister MEP has expressed opposition to the release of agricultural subsidy information to the general public. Jim Allister believes that the publishing of individual farm names with the payment they receive is not to do with transparency in relation to public money but is designed to undermine the farming community.
Jim Allister commented, “I am opposed to DARD issuing payment information on individual farmers and I believe that it more connected to DARD’s policy of undermining the Northern Ireland farming community. I objected to the release of farm payment information last year. I believe that the Ulster Farmers’ Union offered a compromise that would have allowed greater transparency in relation to public monies. It is regrettable that to date DARD has not accepted this compromise.
Information is not issued by other Government Departments regarding income support or health care. Why then should information be released on money going to the agricultural industry for supporting the Government’s cheap food policy?
“I recently highlighted how farmers in Northern Ireland are more likely to be penalised by DARD compared to farmers working in other regions of Europe. I believe that DARD could do more to resolve queries facing the agricultural industry. I raised possible solutions to the duplicate field problems last March but to date DARD have still not responded to my queries. Is this a Department that is trying to resolve problems in the interests of the farmer?
