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From this week cattle that have been re-tagged have their date of birth recorded as ‘unknown’ on the Animal and Public Health Information System (APHIS). This results in the cattle having ‘critical status’, and most are therefore excluded from the food chain due to perceived traceability worries.

Tom said: “DARD requests that they are notified when re-tagging occurs, and farmers must declare which animal has received a new identification number, which is accepted by DARD. However when disposing of the same animal this declaration appears to be rejected by the Department, and traceability issues surface.

“The date of birth is known, if DARD accepts the declaration that a certain animal has a new identification number then it follows that traceability is not compromised.

“As the Department recognises that such animals have been allocated a new ear tag it should surely be able to accommodate these being slaughtered for human consumption with BSE testing?

Over Thirty-Month cattle were eligible for human consumption, following BSE testing, from November 2005, they had been excluded from the food chain since 1996 when the BSE crisis hit the beef industry. January 23 saw the start of the OCDS, for the disposal of cattle born before 1 August 1996, the voluntary scheme operates until the end of 2008.

Tom continued: “Re-tagged animals with eight teeth appear to fall between two stools, as they are not old enough for the OCDS, yet they are not eligible for human consumption so must be disposed of as fallen stock.

“It’s a fact of life that cattle lose tags, especially when they are housed for winter. I feel that these animals should be permitted into the food chain once the various validation checks have been carried out satisfactorily, as at present there are potentially marketable animals treated as by-products and wasted, with no compensation for the producer.

The Ulster Unionist Fermanagh & South Tyrone assemblyman, was referring to figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) last December which reported a rise in alcohol related deaths in England and Wales from 5,970 in 2001 to 6,544 in 2004.

The ONS report found those aged 16 to 24 are more prone to heavy drinking than older age groups. Heavy drinking is defined as over 8 units a day for men, and over 6 for women, with 37 per cent of men and 26 per cent of women in the 16 to 24 age group having exceeded these limits.

Councillor Elliott said: “These figures show that the UK does not have the same attitude to alcohol as many of our European neighbours, and increasing the access to it will only result in binge-drinking and many health implications.

“Considering the energy that the Labour government is putting into stamping out smoking in pubs, it doesn’t make sense that on the other hand they have liberalised drinking laws in GB and plan to do the same here.

“Many are also questioning the logic behind last year’s declassification of cannabis by the Home Office, which seems to have occurred contrary to evidence that relates the drug to long term mental health problems.

“The evidence regarding alcohol and it’s misuse is much clearer, and we ignore it at our peril.”

A Health Promotion Agency (HPA) report into underage drinking in the province called for a ‘joined-up approach’ to tackling this growing phenomenon, involving; schools, parents, our communities, the drinks industry and the government alike. The report found that the average age for the first alcoholic drink is 11, with 32 per cent of those surveyed saying they had purchased alcohol themselves.

Tom continued: “Increasing access to alcohol, which is essentially what these proposals will succeed in doing, will only fuel it’s misuse by our young people, and will render attempts to curb the problem by parents or communities totally impotent.

His call came as it emerged that a classic car club is in dispute with the Parades Commission over an imminent rally. The classic car club, for Volkswagen Beetle enthusiasts, are refusing to fill in the form and state that they should be excluded from the legislation.

However failure to go through the Parades Commission leaves groups such as the Beetle enthusiasts open to prosecution by the Police.

In a statement today Mr Copeland said,

“The legislation is clearly completely over the top. We have already witnessed charity activities by our own Young Unionists, who wanted to take part in a sponsored walk, falling foul of the Parades Commission. Now it is the turn of a group of Beetle car owners.

The MLAs met with representatives of the company to assist in site acquisition several times over the last two years in an effort to secure a commitment to locate in the constituency.

In a joint statement Sir Reg and Mr Copeland said,

“We are very pleased that the situation has progressed to this degree. This process has been two years in the making and we look forward to a successful outcome following further meetings.

The presence of a retailer with the status that Ikea has will greatly assist in the further development of the Holywood exchange site. However there may be planning difficulties ahead so nobody should be popping the champagne corks just yet. It is incumbent on those who have put the work in attracting this company to Northern Ireland to minimise any potential difficulties.

The Ulster Unionist representative said, “I only became aware of this issue during an informal meeting last Tuesday. I was expressing my concern that, with all the ongoing infrastructural improvements that are taking place in the Republic right up to the border, there is a distinct possibility that exporters may be tempted to use the southern ports rather than Belfast or Larne. Given the current inadequate government proposals for the West Link and the M2, which are in essence only tinkering around the edges of our transport difficulties, I can understand how a brand new motorway towards Dublin might seem an attractive alternative.

“These concerns were further heightened when I then was informed that the Scottish Parliament had already appointed MSP Dennis Canavan as the Reporter for the Scottish Parliament’s European and External Relations Committee to inquire into the possibility of a Programme of Co-operation between Scotland and Ireland.

“This inquiry is the Scottish response to the ending of INTERREG funding and its probable replacement by a new Co-operation Objective. This new approach will have two strands, one cross-border and the other transnational. Where it involves two EU states with a maritime border, there should be a maximum distance of up to 150 kms between the relevant coastlines. This would then make it possible for SW Scotland to co-operate with Ireland in order to access these EU funds. It would enable areas such as Argyll, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway as well as Northern Ireland and Donegal to potentially benefit from this joint initiative.

“Unfortunately, with the current absence of the N Ireland Assembly it begs the question who, if anyone, is speaking on behalf of N Ireland or are we going to lose out again on the potential that EU funding, properly applied, could bring to our economy. It seems most unlikely given the current lack of direction exhibited by NIO Ministers that they or their civil servants will bring forward any positive proposals for submission. Indeed I would be pleasantly surprised to learn that they have been in contact with their Scottish counterparts or Dennis Canavan’s Committee before the deadline for submissions closed on 31st January. Northern Ireland needs to be at the table to put its case in this instance, this is too important an issue to ignore.

“In the interim I have made a personal submission to the inquiry highlighting the need for transport links between the mainland and N Ireland to be urgently addressed through a substantial programme to upgrade the A75 and A77 roads in Scotland.

In a statement, Mr Cobain said: “Phoenix Gas price rises will have come as a shock to many, especially for people in low-income households.

“One third of all households in Northern Ireland live in fuel poverty. Indeed, the Department of Trade and Industry estimated that around 200,000 extra people in the UK could have fallen into fuel poverty in the last two years as a result of higher energy costs. Addressing this must be a priority for government.

“We need to look at this issue afresh and explore the possibilities that derive from renewable energy sources.

“I would like to see the Housing Executive roll out a programme of solar panel installations. This could also be provided in new housing stock through Housing Associations.

“This type of scheme could directly impact on fuel poverty as it has the capacity to reduce costs by around 20% to 30%. The UUP has been considering this for some time - I believe that government now needs to bring new thinking to the issue.”

He added: “Last year, DSD Minister David Hanson announced that 100,000 more homes have been installed with oil or gas fired central heating since 2001.

“Yet gas prices have risen by around 47% since October - and is two thirds more expensive here than in England. And last July the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation stated that, by the end of the decade, electricity consumers here will have forked out £1 billion more for their electricity than the rest of the UK - overall, that equates to around £1,600 per household.

Speaking from Brussels Mr Nicholson said,

“It is quite clear that Sinn Fein is attempting to use the European Parliament as a vehicle to promote their quest for a united Ireland. The document, which filled the pigeon holes of MEPs today was published last February and was supported by gimmicks and cheap publicity stunts throughout the year.

“However, I am confident that this will fall on deaf ears. No one of any significance in the European Parliament pays any attention to Sinn Fein whose two MEPs belong to an obscure left – wing grouping with little or no influence.

“Sinn Fein is clearly not in the business of building trust or bridges in Northern Ireland as their actions, in re – launching this document, clearly demonstrate. How can any political party take Sinn Fein seriously in political negotiations when they insist on pursing political pipe dreams like this?

“Unionism has nothing to fear from the calls for Irish Unity that both the SDLP and Sinn Fein have made because ultimately they are meaningless.

“Both parties know that, because of the constitutional guarantees negotiated by the Ulster Unionist Party, Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom is non – negotiable until the majority of people Northern Ireland state otherwise.

Speaking from Brussels Jim Nicholson said,

“Hamas cannot expect to gain legitimacy by being involved in democratic elections while simultaneously threatening Israel with death and destruction. The radical policies and activities pursued by Hamas threaten peace, security and stability in the Middle East.

“Our Province has witnessed the devastating and destabilising effects of the Republican Movement’s dual strategy of the armalite and the ballot box. Indeed it is hard to reconcile Republican’s alleged commitment to peace and democracy in Northern Ireland with their support for international terror groups such as Hamas.

“Sinn Fein have clearly nailed their colours to the anti – Israeli mast by sending their MEP Barbara de Brun to the Middle East to observe the elections as the British representative of a radical political grouping in the European Parliament, the European United Left/Nordic Green Left, who are profoundly anti – Israeli.

“I’m well aware that in November last year the Garda made additional resources available to tackle serious organised crime. Such resources do however need to be deployed effectively. Most serious organised crime is cross-border and most is paramilitary linked.

In recent days the Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde has confirmed that his view on the continued existence of paramilitary criminality is consistent with that of his senior detectives – it is still prevalent.”

Speaking from Westminster, the North Down MP continued:

“It doesn’t matter whether smuggling or other criminal operations are for the organisation itself or for personal gain, if the organisation’s structures are exploited to effect the crime. I intend to take the opportunity created by the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee visit to Dublin to challenge Noel White, the Head of the Garda’s National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, on these issues.