DUP Member of the European Parliament, Jim Allister QC, has announced that he has been appointed to the Constitutional Affairs and Fisheries Committees of the European Parliament.

Speaking from Strasbourg, Jim Allister said, "I am delighted that my negotiations over committee membership has resulted in my appointment to the Constitutional Affairs Committee.

In view of the pending debate over the New Constitution this Committee is particularly important and I look forward to using it as a vehicle to articulate and advance the case against the New Constitution.

I am also pleased to be appointed to the Fisheries Committee, which has special relevance for N.I.  In addition I will serve as a substitute member on the Committee on International Trade, which has relevance to the World Trade negotiations, which themselves impact directly on Northern Irelands' Agricultural Industry ".