UUP Councillor calls for Agriculture Minister to take Responsibilities Seriously
UUP Antrim Councillor Stephen Nicholl has called on Agriculture Minister David Cairns to ‘take his responsibilities seriously’ after learning that the Minister is refusing to meet with farmers affected by the A6 dualing scheme.
The Minister claims he has a conflict of interest in his role as Minister for Regional Development.
Councillor Nicholl said:
“We have a situation where a large number of farms are affected by this scheme, some to the point where this new road will render currently viable, sustainable farms unviable.
“Those affected have sought a meeting with the Agriculture Minister and expect him to be in their corner. Instead, they have found that he has been deflected from his role by civil servants who see a conflict of interest with his role as Regional Development Minister.
“We continue to have a situation where some civil servants view the agricultural sector as simply a land bank for their private use and this appears to be a particularly strong view in Roads Service. There is no recognition that farms are businesses, many existing on very tight margins, and the impact of significant disruption can be to destroy a business that has taken generations to build and develop.
“The DARD strategic plan 2006 – 2011 states ‘We will continue to develop our relationships with other departments to ensure that they take into account rural needs when developing their policies and procedures.’ Yet when given the opportunity to turn rhetoric into reality the Minister fails to live up to his responsibility.
“I call on the Minister to treat his role seriously and meet with those farmers most affected. The rural community in this area has a right to expect the Agriculture Minister to at least listen to their issues. If he cannot, then surely he must step aside and hand his portfolio to someone who is not in conflict with another role in their support for the rural community”.