Northern Ireland Assembly
Monday 18 February 2002 (continued)
Townland Names 7. Mr McElduff asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure if he has any plans to include townland names on all correspondence emanating from his Department. Mr McGimpsey: My officials are encouraged to reply to correspondence using the address supplied by the correspondent. Townland names are a valuable element of our rich cultural and linguistic heritage; and I welcome their use in addresses, along with the postcode and, where appropriate, the road name. My Department is also taking specific steps to protect and promote the important cultural and linguistic heritage preserved in our townlands. Mr McElduff: I thank the Minister for his commitment to the promotion of townland names. Does he agree that it is reasonable to expect the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure to take the lead in a major campaign aimed at promoting townland names? Will the Department incorporate in all official correspondence the name of the townland in which its headquarters at Interpoint is located? Mr McGimpsey: My Department is taking significant steps to safeguard and strengthen that aspect of our cultural and linguistic heritage. 3.30 pm One example is the common address file - an initiative from the Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland, which is part of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. It is looking at a standardised form of address for Government and the private sector, which will include townland names. We have received a successful bid for £1 million of funding through Executive programme funds to advance that scheme, which will mean that every address will be re-united with its townland name. That will happen; the next step is to collect the address data. It is important to recognise that townland names have never disappeared - they are detailed on ordnance survey maps, depending on the size of the map. The common address file will ensure that townland names are on standardised forms of addresses in future. Mr Gallagher: Does the Minister agree that one of the greatest obstacles to the retention of our townland names is the Post Office policy of giving preference to road names, a policy which is driven by the interests of big business and its narrow, selfish interests? Will his Department use its influence to have the Post Office change its policy, and take on board the concerns of local communities? Mr Deputy Speaker: I must ask you to be brief, Minister. Mr McGimpsey: I readily agree that the introduction of road names by the Post Office was the biggest threat to the common usage of townland names, but I do not agree that it was to do with big business. As I said in my answer to Mr McElduff, a standardised form of address, including townland names, is coming on board through the common address file in the near future. Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentBSE-Contaminated Tissue 1. Mr Byrne asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to confirm that all possible measures have been taken to prevent BSE-contaminated tissue from entering the food chain; and to make a statement. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Rodgers): Members will be aware that no bovine animal of more than 30 months of age enters the human food chain. Regarding animals under 30 months of age, which pass both anti- and post-mortem examinations, all tissues that could potentially be infected with the BSE agent are removed. The Specified Risk Material Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997, as amended, requires that all bovine tissues - otherwise known as specified risk material - that could potentially harbour the BSE agent are removed as soon as is reasonably practicable after the slaughter of the animal, immediately stained blue, and disposed off by rendering or by incineration at approved premises. All carcasses for human consumption, including imported carcasses, are inspected by departmental staff to ensure that all specified risk material has been removed. The Department and the Food Standards Agency place a high emphasis on the controls in this area of work. We regularly carry out audits in meat plants to ensure that all best practices are being followed. The results of those audits, which are published monthly in the UK BSE bulletin, give us a high level of confidence that specified risk material is being properly disposed of and is unable to enter the food chain. Mr Byrne: I thank the Minister for her comprehensive answer. Does she agree that maximum consumer confidence in food safety standards must be the priority, both in food production and distribution? What other measures might be in place to protect the consumer? Ms Rodgers: I fully recognise the importance of consumer confidence to the agrifood industry. However, we cannot expect to gain that confidence without securing the safety of our food. As far as beef is concerned, no bovine animal of more than 30 months of age is permitted to enter the human food chain. That measure ensures that cattle that show no sign of BSE, but which may be incubating the disease, cannot enter the food chain. In addition, all specified risk material - brain, spinal cord, et cetera - is removed from all bovine carcasses. The over-30-month scheme exists to ensure the safe removal of all parts of bovines of more than 30 months of age from the food chain, in case of early incubation. Rural Development Programme: EU Moneys 2. Mr Molloy asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how the EU moneys redirected to the rural development programme's "modulation money" will be spent, and who will benefit. Ms Rodgers: As required under EU Council regulation 1259/99, funds raised by the application of modulation can be deployed only for the purposes of agrienvironment, forestation of our agriculture land, farmer early retirement or less-favoured area (LFA) support measures. There is also a requirement that expenditure of those moneys must be confined to new recipients or schemes. Therefore, in the Northern Ireland rural development regulation plan, modulation funds have been devoted entirely to agrienvironmental measures and grants for the forestation of agriculture land. The beneficiaries are landowners or farmers with a long-term lease. Some of the projected receipts for modulation have yet to be allocated under the rural development regulation plan, but current EU rules dictate that farmers and landowners will receive those moneys too. Mr Molloy: Can a region decide what the money will be used for? Very few farmers have entered the countryside management scheme, because they do not see themselves simply as images for tourism through managing the hedgerows. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has devoted many staff and a great deal of administration costs to the scheme. What direct benefit will result for farmers who are deprived now? Ms Rodgers: Regions can decide within the confines of the allowed measures, to which I have already referred. They are forestation, the early retirement scheme, agrienvironment measures and area support measures as well as the non-accompanying measures, which are allowed for match funding. However, it can be done on a regional basis within those parameters.As I have already stated, all of the money goes to the farmers. Europe is looking towards the environment and moving to the second pillar of the common agricultural policy (CAP), which largely relates to diversification projects and the environment. It would be foolish for people to put their heads in the sand. The Department has taken great care to ensure that farmers are trained, informed and in a position to benefit from those agrienvironment measures, including countryside management, and I am pleased to confirm uptake for those schemes. Dairy Farmers 3. Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what actions she has taken to alleviate the serious problems faced by dairy farmers who have suffered low refunds from the EU on dairy products. Ms Rodgers: The purpose of export refunds is to encourage exports by compensating processors of dairy products for the higher cost of using EU-sourced raw materials under the common agricultural policy.When world dairy commodity markets declined in 2001, my officials and I worked hard to secure increases at the EU Milk and Milk Products Management Committee meetings. I also raised the matter with Margaret Beckett, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. I impressed on her the need to put pressure on the EU Commission to secure an increase in export refunds. Moreover, in advance of the crucial EU Management Committee meeting on 24 January, I ensured that Commissioner Fischler was made aware of the importance of that matter for Northern Ireland. Export refunds for skimmed milk powder have increased from zero on 1 November 2001 to 300 euro a ton at present. I shall continue to review the market situation in conjunction with the dairy industry. Mrs I Robinson: I thank the Minister for her response. Does she agree that the move, although welcome as a step in the right direction, is still not enough to alleviate the serious situation that is developing in Northern Ireland's dairy farming sector? Does she agree that a further rise is needed at the Committee's next meeting? Does the Minister accept that the dairy farming industry in Northern Ireland, which generates upwards of £600 million a year and a further £70 million in VAT for the local economy, as well as employing approximately 13,000 people, deserves to receive better treatment from the EU and better export refunds for their products? Ms Rodgers: At the United Dairy Farmer's milk auction last week, I noted that there have been further falls in prices. The indications from the dairy industry are that the fall in prices would have been more severe if we had not secured increases in the export refunds. However, it is disappointing that those have not had a more positive impact on the market. I agree with the Member that it would be useful if we could get additional funding. I have asked my officials to review the market information with the industry, with a view to pressing for further increases in export refunds at future meetings of the EU Milk and Milk Products Management Committee. I have also supported measures to help to strengthen the market. For example, private storage aid for butterfat was brought forward by two weeks at the beginning at March. That is the first time that that has happened for 10 years. Furthermore, the minimum incorporation rate for subsidised skimmed milk powder used in animal feed increased to 50% on 1 January. Both of those measures have been helpful. Mr Douglas: Does the Minister agree that to achieve improved export refunds for Northern Ireland's dairy sector, we need enthusiastic support from Margaret Beckett, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs? Is enthusiastic support forthcoming? Ms Rodgers: As I have already stated, I made clear to Mrs Beckett the position in Northern Ireland at the ministerial meeting before the previous Management Committee meeting. I made the case strongly to her on behalf of the Northern Ireland industry. I am pleased to say that Mrs Beckett took it fully on board. At the Management Committee, the case for Northern Ireland was advanced by Mrs Beckett. She was supportive in that situation. That is how we managed to get the previous rise. I may have to press for another rise in the future if the situation deteriorates, but I shall do that in discussion with the industry and by talking again to Mrs Beckett. Vision Document 4. Ms Lewsley asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how many responses have been received to the consultation process on the vision document; and to make a statement. Ms Rodgers: A total of 81 written responses was received by the closing date for consultation. I have been most encouraged by the response to the consultation exercise. The conference in November was well attended, and I have held 27 bilateral meetings with key industry stakeholders. My Department is currently engaged in analysing the vision report and the responses to it. Ms Lewsley: I too welcome the numbers of responses to the vision report. What is the timescale for the implementation of that report? Ms Rodgers: I shall need time to consider the report and the results of the consultation exercise. I shall also require time to have discussions with my Executive Colleagues, other Departments and the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development. I aim to produce an action plan in the summer. However, some recommendations that have widespread support and that are affordable within existing provision may be implemented earlier. For example, we may be able to move on areas such as information technology and communications technology; training; animal and plant health; agrifood and the supply chain; the environment; representation of the interests of Northern Ireland; and the food body, before we come to the action plan areas in which we are already engaged. Milk Prices 5. Mr Bradley asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what her assessment is on the effect that milk quota transferred from the UK is having on the current milk prices in Northern Ireland. Ms Rodgers: The transfer of wholesale milk quota between regions of the United Kingdom has been permissible only since 1 April 1993. In the interim, Northern Ireland has benefited from the revised arrangements, with the net quota transferred to Northern Ireland each year ranging between 13 million and 63 million litres. That has helped to improve the structure of dairy farms in Northern Ireland. It has not had any adverse impact on the prices paid to producers for their milk. A reduction in the prices received by producers in recent years has stemmed first from the strength of sterling, which has been acknowledged by the payment of agrimonetary compensation to dairy farmers in 2000 and again in 2001. 3.45 pm The sector has recently faced a weakening of the international markets on which the Northern Ireland industry relies heavily, and there have also been reductions in export refunds. My officials and I have been working hard to secure an increase in export refunds in the hope that that will improve prices paid to consumers. Mr Bradley: I thank the Minister for the depth of her reply. Would dairy farmers be better off if they had not purchased milk quota from GB? Ms Rodgers: Farmers who decided to purchase milk quota did so to help improve the structure of their farm business and farm income from the point of view of scale. Had they not done so, their businesses would not have remained viable. The additional quota has also benefited the milk-processing sector by maintaining and generating employment, and by enabling the sector to use its assets more efficiently. On the whole it has been beneficial, and we are not any worse off for having the additional milk quota. Twenty-Day Livestock Movement Standstill 6. Mr Armstrong asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development when she expects to relax the 20-day livestock movement standstill. Ms Rodgers: I draw the Member's attention to the changes that I have made, which became effective from 4 February 2002. The holding standstill no longer applies to cattle and pigs - and moved-in cattle and pigs will be subject to a 30-day standstill. Other cattle and pigs in the herd will no longer be subjected to a standstill period. The current 20-day standstill period for sheep will continue to apply to the entire holding. Although I am content with veterinary advice that the risk of disease in cattle and pigs in Northern Ireland is now low, it would be prudent to maintain existing foot-and-mouth disease controls on sheep until after the stress of lambing, when the position will be reviewed. Mr Armstrong: Does the Minister agree that the 30-day standstill period on individual animals currently in place could be lower and would still have the effect of reducing the number of notifiable disease cases? It could also reduce the number of tuberculosis and brucellosis cases in Northern Ireland. That would reduce the amount of compensation paid, and would also make the Northern Ireland farmer more health conscious. Ms Rodgers: The 30-day standstill period for the movement of cattle and pigs reflects the residency period for intracommunity trade. It is necessary to reflect the shared desire in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to control the spread of a range of animal diseases. Some animal diseases - unlike foot-and- mouth disease - have a 30-day incubation period. That is the reason for the 30-day standstill requirement. Value-Added Dairy Products 7. Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how she is encouraging the development of value-added dairy products in Northern Ireland. Ms Rodgers: Although the Northern Ireland dairy industry makes an important contribution to the agrifood industry, it is heavily reliant on the export of dairy products. Therefore, in order to enhance future prosperity, it is vital that the industry focuses on the development of high value-added dairy products. To this end my Department has supported several projects under the EU processing and marketing grant scheme to develop high value-added products. Food technologists from Loughry College continue to work with a wide range of processing businesses in the dairy sector to identify and take advantage of niche market and other market opportunities through the development of new milk drinks, cheeses and cream products. Specialist training is provided to those engaged in the development of value-added products, and scientific research is also carried out with industry groups. Mr Beggs: Does the Minister acknowledge that, during the period of direct rule, the Northern Ireland Office was, to a degree, negligent in its failure to address the overreliance of the milk sector, on milk powder in particular? Does she agree that, although intervention and funding from the state can play a role in the short term, developing value-added products with alternative uses, which will increase dairy farmers incomes, will be vital in the long term? Ms Rodgers: I do not wish to comment on the period of direct rule. I had no responsibility for that, and it is a matter of opinion. There is now a need to restructure the industry and to take whatever steps we can to assist it, including processing and marketing grants that help develop those products. The industry accepts the need for structural change in the long term, with more emphasis being placed on value-added products, and possibly some rationalisation, in order to build economies of scale. Although public money cannot be spent in order to achieve rationalisation, assistance can be made available to support investment in value-added production. That is an area on which we are already focusing, and on which we shall continue to focus. Mr Dallat: Does the Minister agree that the setting up of co-operatives is one way to encourage the development of value-added products? Is that provided for in her plans for the future of the agrifood industry? Ms Rodgers: The vision report encourages the coming together of various parts of the food chain to develop horizontal and vertical links. My Department provides financial and technical assistance for the establishment of co-operatives by producers, including those that are intended to help to add value to primary production. I have recently had meetings with one sector of the industry that is attempting to do that. In addition, the mushroom sector has come together in order to achieve better results. I am anxious to assist and enhance any proposal made by the industry, and to facilitate it on the basis of encouraging the co-operation that is proposed in the vision report. CAP Reform 8. Dr McDonnell asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what discussions have taken place on CAP reform (a) within Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland; (b) within Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales; and (c) with the British Government; and to make a statement. Ms Rodgers: I have had several recent discussions on CAP reform in Ireland and Great Britain. In late January, I met Joe Walsh, the Republic's Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Environment, at the North/ South Ministerial Council agriculture sectoral meeting and confirmed with him that our priority should be the protection of the ability to export to Third World countries, and the retention of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) blue box exemptions for direct payments to farmers. Early last week, I met with my Scottish and Welsh counterparts in Edinburgh. Later in the week, we met the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Margaret Beckett, in London. Those discussions covered our approach to the mid-term review of the Agenda 2000 agreement. My negotiating stance in those discussions is that, although there are valid reasons for reform, we must endeavour to ensure that reform is on a scale and at a pace that does not put unacceptable pressure on farmers and their families, or that causes difficulties for the viability of the rural economy. Dr McDonnell: In the context of the expansion of the European Union and the consequent pressures that may arise, will the Minister expand further on what she has outlined on reform and related issues? With regard to agriculture, how shall we be affected by the expansion of the European Union? Ms Rodgers: There are valid arguments for reform, including the competitiveness of European Union products, environmental concerns, the level of stability of farm incomes, budgetary constraints and the "Berlin ceiling", and trade and enlargement considerations. All those elements mean that there will be change. We must be able to manage that change.We must try to ensure that whatever reform takes place is on a scale and at a pace that does not put unacceptable pressure on farmers, and that it will not cause problems for the viability of the rural economy and rural communities. There are social and narrow economic issues to be considered. I have been making those points. We want no isolation or marginalisation in rural communities, and we do not wish to create a situation whereby rural communities may "fall off the edge". Due to the nature of our industry and the number of small farms in Northern Ireland, it is extremely important that the pace of change can be absorbed and the farming community can be sustained through it. We must make the important point that change is coming and is inevitable. However, we must manage that change. Agricultural Subsidies 9. Mr Savage asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development whether there has been overpayment of agricultural subsidies in the past year; and to make a statement. Ms Rodgers: There has been no general overpayment of agricultural subsidies in the past year. Individual cases of overpayment arise when the completion of administrative checks or information from inspections or investigations show that the initial assessment of entitlement, based on the claim made by the farmer, was incorrect. In such cases, the details are entered on the Department's debtors' ledger, and in accordance with EU regulations, the Department is obliged to pursue recovery of the overpayment. In the past year, 384 new debt cases amounting to £255,176 were recorded in the Department's debtors' ledger. That represents around only two cases per 1,000 claims processed and around 0·14% of the total value of subsidy payments made. Mr Savage: I welcome the Minister's statement. Will the money be recouped? Ms Rodgers: There is an obligation on the Department to recoup the money, and it will be recouped in due course. Meeting with Irish Agriculture Minister 10. Mr McElduff asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development when she will next meet Mr Joe Walsh TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, and what issues will be on the agenda. Ms Rodgers: My next formal meeting with Mr Walsh will be at the North/South Ministerial Council agriculture sectoral meeting, which will take place in April. Our agenda will include items such as animal and plant health research and development, issues of mutual interest linked to CAP reform, WTO negotiations and cross-border rural development. In the interim, I may contact Mr Walsh on an informal basis if issues arise that affect both jurisdictions. Mr McElduff: I thank the Minister for her detailed answer. Does she agree that a single island agricultural economy offers the best future prospects for the farming community and industry, North and South? Ms Rodgers: I thank Mr McElduff for his question. Within the remit of the North/South Ministerial Council there is recognition by Minister Walsh and myself that in many areas - such as animal health - a North/ South all-island strategy could be useful. Regardless of political positions or persuasions, that is recognised across the community as being beneficial to everyone and threatening to no one. There are common agriculture priorities on the island. It makes common sense to work together through the North/South Ministerial Council to co-ordinate our activities and efforts when they can benefit the people of Ireland as a whole. Good Farming Practice Initiative 11. Mr McMenamin asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what assessment she has made of the recently launched good farming practice initiative; and to make a statement. Ms Rodgers: My Department recently launched the Farming Today in the LFA training programme for farmers in less-favoured areas. The programme, which has been designed in partnership with the industry and funded under the Programme for Government, contains two elements - good farming practice and good business sense. Both elements are delivered locally and have a practical workshop style closely linked to the needs of participants. The good farming practice element is designed to help farmers in less-favoured areas meet new environmental obligations that are a condition of LFA and agrienvironment support payments. Those payments are worth approximately £30 million annually to the local agriculture industry, and failure to follow good farming practice puts the payments at risk. The Farming Today in the LFA programme is now open for business and is attracting considerable interest from the farming community. To date, approximately 3,000 farmers have registered to participate in one or more elements of the training programme. 4.00 pm Mr McMenamin: How is the initiative linked to the rural portal that was recently launched by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development? Ms Rodgers: The rural portal is an ICT-based gateway designed to provide farmers with a means to simply and conveniently access information relevant to their business. It was funded under the Programme for Government and is a further example of the investment that we are making to help the industry to meet today's challenges and to adapt to the needs of the future. Although the good farming practice programme cannot be delivered through the rural portal, it will be used to make information available on both elements of the Farming Today and the LFA training programme. That information will include details of the programme and how farmers can apply to participate. Mr McHugh: Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. In relation to the last question - Mr Deputy Speaker: I am sorry, Mr McHugh, I was calling you for question 15. Countryside Management Scheme 15. Mr McHugh asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail (a) the number of applications made to the countryside management scheme; and (b) the number accepted. Ms Rodgers: Is question 15 the next question? What happened to questions 12, 13 and 14? Mr Deputy Speaker: The Members are not in the Chamber, so they cannot be called. Ms Rodgers: I am sorry, Mr Deputy Speaker. I was somewhat confused. A total of 1,010 applications were received when the countryside management scheme was first opened for applications, of which 280 were subsequently withdrawn or rejected as being ineligible. The finance available allowed 400 applicants to be offered management agreements, and 330 applicants subsequently accepted agreements and entered the scheme. A second round of applications was conducted between May and July 2001, and 1,457 applications were received, including applications from people who were unsuccessful in the first application exercise. Of this total, 356 applications have subsequently been withdrawn or rejected as ineligible - Mr Deputy Speaker: I reluctantly have to stop the Minister now, because we are past our time. Motion made: That the Assembly do now adjourn. - [Mr Deputy Speaker.] |