Allister Condemns Gildernew for Agri Wages Board U-Turn
15 October 2007
Jim Allister QC MEP has strongly criticised Michelle Gildernew for what he describes as a blatant u-turn by her on earlier commitments on the future of the agricultural wages Board.
The MEP said,
“During a UFU-inspired debate in the Northern Ireland transitional Assembly on 8th January 2007, Michelle Gildernew clearly stated,
‘The abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board is also one of the UFU’s five priorities. Sinn Féin endorses all five priorities and gives its commitment to champion them’.
Indeed, in the same debate, Gildernew’s Sinn Fein Party colleague Catriona Rouane said her party supported the removal of the Agricultural Wages Board, as it had become
‘Another layer of unnecessary bureaucracy’.
Mr Allister added,
“On behalf of Northern Ireland’s farmers, I am disgusted at the manner of their treatment, something which is seemingly becoming habitual practice by the current let down Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew”.
“Far from being some sort of self styled ‘Rural Champion’, Gildernew is undermining the competitiveness of local agriculture, through her draconian decisions on Voluntary Modulation and her allocation of the Rural Development Budget away from farming oriented Measures. Her latest decision on the Agri Wages Board is another snub to the 5 Measures recommended by UFU to assist the industry.”
ENDS
