Allister welcomes focus on Agriculture
14 April 2008
Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister has welcomed the focus on Northern Ireland Agriculture by Commissioner Hubner, as part of the Northern Ireland Task Force Report. MEP’s received an advance copy of the Report, which will be officially launched in Belfast on Monday.
The Task Force was charged by European Commission President Barosso of looking at ways of supporting efforts to improve economic competitiveness and sustainable employment in Northern Ireland.
Commenting on the Report’s findings, Mr Allister said,
“I welcome the fact that one of the ten chapters of the report focuses solely on Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland. The Report makes some useful findings, which I hope will be met with affirmative action on the part of all Government Departments.”
“The level of Rural Development support available to increase the competitiveness of the beef and dairy sectors is recognised as being insufficient. The Report also highlights the pressing need of the Dairy Industry locally to restructure, to be able to compete more effectively in preparation of the abolition of the quota regime post 2015. A comparison is made with the Republic of Ireland, where a State Aid approved scheme of some 300 million Euros has been designed to modernise the dairy sector, and to assist it to get into more added value products. However, in Northern Ireland, a mere £50 million has been given for the modernisation of all sectors of agriculture combined!”
“Crucially, the Report highlights the importance of NI authorities becoming more proactive in discussions on the future shape of the CAP, both Nationally at UK and at EU level. Indeed, the Report adds that contact between the Commission and the Northern Ireland Executive at Brussels is ‘regular’ but not ‘systematic’. It is little wonder, then that Northern Ireland farmers continue to be bombarded with legislation which is unsuited to the specific circumstances which prevail here, such as the ban on mince from animals slaughtered over 6 days. Any efforts to cut red tape from Brussels will be ineffective without meaningful input by our civil servants on a day to day basis.”
“The NI Task Force Report highlights many of the key action points which need to be taken by Government. I look forward to seeing how Government responds to these recommendations.”
ENDS
