Allister Condemns DARD decision to 'Flog Family Silver'
12 June 2007
Jim Allister MEP has condemned DARD’s decision to dispose of AFBI’s Crossnacreevy site, to fund the Farm Nutrient Management Scheme.
Mr Allister said,
‘Farmers have been dealt a harsh blow by the new Minister, first in her decision to maintain Voluntary Modulation at an unacceptably high rate of up to 9% in 2012. The announcement that DARD is to sell the AFBI site at Crossnacreevy is a further blow to the industry.’
‘This announcement by DARD to sell off assets to fund its own incompetence smacks of short-termism, and does not take into account the consequences this decision will bring. Indeed, it would appear this decision has been taken without adequate consultation, and in disregard of the signal such a closure sends out to the agricultural industry.’
Mr Allister continued,
‘It is my understanding that while DARD has secured Department of Finance and Personnel consent to use funds realised from the disposal of Crossnacreevy to fund FNMS applications, any additional funds over and above the £79 million needed will be lost from agriculture, and will go into the Central pot. This is surely a costly way to raise necessary funds, and a seriously flawed saga in transposing an EC Directive’.
ENDS
