“For the first time ever the UFU (Oct 29) has passed a motion of no confidence in the Minister and his department, because farmers have reached the end of their tether, they don’t know where to go.”
A UUP motion highlighting the “palpable anger” of farmers has been labelled a Christmas time “charade” by Alliance.
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) has however agreed this week to lobby the DAERA Minister Andrew Muir (Alliance) amid an unprecedented no confidence motion by the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) with his department.
The move comes following claims Daera’s climate change demands on farmers are “flawed” to the point it could spell the end of the £2.7bn agri-food industry in Northern Ireland.
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Bringing forward the motion, Downshire East UUP Alderman James Baird said:”This council calls on the Minister for Daera to move beyond an ‘open door’ approach and to actively engage, listen, and deliver tangible action in partnership with the UFU.”
The motion also identified a need to address “farmers’ frustrations with Bovine Tuberculosis, inheritance tax and planning paralysis for agricultural development”.
He added: “The farming community is fed up with poorly put together policies, but more than anything farmers are fed up with being blamed for all the environmental problems that affect our country.
“The department plans to dictate what fertilisers can be used on each farmer’s field, but it is not practical on a working farm.
“We’ve all seen the slogan, ‘no farmers, no food, no future’….if Daera is not challenged soon, the farming industry will not be able to survive.”
Downshire East DUP councillor Uel Mackin added:”There is a massive burden on farmers to maintain a certain level, which is not achievable.
“I believe the Minister when he says his door is open, but they are not listening or understanding the issues.
“As a result we get flawed regulations and flawed procedures and flawed policies. The anger within the farming community is palpable.
“For the first time ever the UFU (Oct 29) has passed a motion of no confidence in the Minister and his department, because farmers have reached the end of their tether, they don’t know where to go.”
Castlereagh East Alliance Alderman Martin Gregg said:”I know it is almost Christmas, but that’s no reason to roll out this charade of a motion.
“It calls for everything that the Minster is already doing. It’s notable as much for what it doesn’t contain as for as little that it does.
“Bizarrely it doesn’t mention the Lough Neagh report and action plan or nutrients plan which are key elements of the UFU debate.
“It also does not mention that farmers are prepared to play their part in creating an environmentally and economically sustainable agriculture industry…that’s a direct quote from the UFU.
“This motion is nothing more than playing politics so far ahead of the next elections.”
The motion was approved with 24 in favour and 12 against.
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