MEPs lead NI Fischer-Boel delegation
11 December 2007
Joint statement by Jim Allister MEP and Jim NIcholson MEP:
"The most high-level delegation from the Agri-Food sector in Northern Ireland to meet with the EU in many years, will this afternoon meet Commissioner Fischer-Boel in Strasbourg.
Organised and led jointly by MEPs Jim Allister and Jim Nicholson, the delegation, representing the pig, poultry, beef and sheep sectors, will consist of :
Robert Irvine, Northern Ireland Grade Trade Association;
Eric Reid, Director of Moy Park Ltd;
Keith Smyton, Ulster Pork and Bacon Forum;
Kenneth Sharkey, President Ulster Farmers Union.
Sparked by the crisis resulting from spiralling feed prices and the inability of producers to retrieve their increased production costs from the supply chain, the meeting will focus on how the intensive sector in Northern Ireland can best survive. Each sector will starkly place before the Commissioner the extreme pressures under which they operate and while welcoming measures such as export refunds in pigmeat will urge further steps upon her."
Copies of submissions to Fischer-Boel attached here and here.
