COMMITTEE RESPOND TO MINISTER’S STATEMENT ON BLUETONGUE

Reacting to today’s announcement of the first confirmed case of bluetongue in Northern Ireland, the Chairman of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr William McCrea MP MLA, said:

“I thank the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for the quick action taken after the identification of an individual animal with bluetongue.

“The farming industry does not need any further challenges at this time and therefore I call on the whole industry to work with the Departments efforts to enforce high standards of bio-security to protect our industry”.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Committee Membership:
Dr William McCrea MP, Chairperson
Tom Elliott, Deputy Chairperson
P.J. Bradley
Allan Bresland
Thomas Burns
Trevor Clarke
Willie Clarke
Pat Doherty
William Irwin
Francie Molloy
George Savage

Information about this meeting can be obtained from: -

Kieran Dougan
Information Office, Parliament Buildings
Tel: 028 9052 1137

Mr Paul Carlisle
Clerk to the Committee
Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development,
Room 284,
Parliament Buildings,
Belfast BT4 3XX.
Telephone 028 90521063.
Fax 028 90521679.
E-mail – committee.agriculture@ niassembly.gov.uk