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Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott has stated that the launch of a campaign by ‘Food Promotion Northern Ireland’ is encouraging, but noted that there was a real need for the campaign to gain impetus among all sections of the food industry in Northern Ireland.

Tom said “The news that this coming February will see the launch of a campaign by ‘Food Promotion Northern Ireland’ to advertise local produce is something which certainly deserves praise. It has been clear for quite some time now that action was needed to address the declining profits faced by the agricultural industry. This campaign will hopefully encourage local people that home-grown produce is the best for them and their families.

“As things currently stand only a small proportion (approximately 30%) of our local produce stays here in Northern Ireland. It is vital that the local services including Restaurants and Cafes buy-in to the campaign and support local people by using local produce. With their support new doors would open up to the agricultural industry through increased profit and some much needed encouragement would help lift the pressure currently felt by farmers throughout the country.”

The main method of bringing the campaign into the public sphere will come through the media, including two television adverts which are set to begin in February next year. Under the title “Northern Ireland: Good food is in our nature” the campaign managers hope that people here will grasp the importance of supporting local farmers. Local retailers and businesses can do their part by advertising the slogan and purchasing home-grown food to create their produce.

Tom went on to say “I have never been in any doubt that a national strategy was needed to support local agriculture and I openly encourage everyone in Northern Ireland to play their part by supporting this venture. Only by working together as a community can the local agricultural industry return to the levels of prominence it once enjoyed. It is to the advantage of everyone to have a vibrant and healthy agriculture sector given its position as the largest source of employment in the private sector.

“It is my firm belief that if this campaign is successful it will provide the impetus for further advertising, not only here in Northern Ireland but throughout the rest of the United Kingdom and into Europe. Our main export retailer in that of mainland UK and it is pivotal that while this campaign seeks to help the industry at home we should not focus solely inward but be mindful to continue making our presence felt throughout the United Kingdom.”

Ulster Unionist Assemblyman, Sam Gardiner MLA, has condemned the trouble in Edward Street, Lurgan at the weekend.

“I am glad to say this flare up was easily contained by police with the help of community workers. This kind of disorder is going nowhere and it raises the issue of what we are going to do about gang culture among teenagers. Now that tougher measures are being introduced against knife crime, we need to turn our attention to the eradication of the gang culture which leads so many young people into trouble, not just here in Northern Ireland but across the UK.”

“The young people involved in the fracas need to ask themselves – what am I doing with my life, what is really in this for me ? The truth is they are going nowhere and they are risking a great deal which they may bitterly regret in later life when they are trying to make something of their lives. They need to be asking very searching questions abut the motives of the people who led them into this.”

“The days when disorder would be tolerated are now behind us. There is no longer any credible political cover for this kind of disturbance. The young people involved need to step back from this irrational and ultimately self-destructive behaviour.”

Ulster Unionist Member of the European Parliament Jim Nicholson MEP has said the Prime Minister’s refusal to hold a referendum on the EU Treaty agreed last night at a meeting of EU Leaders in Lisbon is an affront to democracy.

The Treaty of Lisbon will be signed by EU Leaders on December 13th in Lisbon.

In a statement Mr Nicholson said,

“The new EU Treaty will have a profound effect on the way the UK is governed taking further powers away from Member States and it is nothing less than an affront to democracy that the Prime Minister will not allow the British people to have their say on it.

“The new EU Treaty contains more than 90% of the original constitution that was rejected in 2005 by the French and Dutch voters. The name may have changed but the substance is still the same.

“No – one disagrees with the need for fundamental reform in the EU so that it can become more accountable, transparent and more responsive to people’s needs but this is not the answer.

“At a time when public confidence and belief in the work of the EU is at an all time low the Prime Minister should be encouraging people in Northern Ireland and all across the UK to debate the future direction of the EU, not stifling discussion and attempting to bring the constitution in through the back door.”

Ulster Unionist Member of the European Parliament, Jim Nicholson MEP has along with other colleagues in the European Parliament tabled a motion for resolution in the European Parliament on rising animal feed prices.

Mr Nicholson has expressed serious concern in recent months about rising animal feed prices and the impact it is having on some parts of the agricultural industry in Northern Ireland. The motion will be debated next Tuesday in the European Parliament.

In a statement Mr Nicholson said,

“In recent months rising animal feed prices have had a devastating impact on many farmers. The world grain supply has been affected by severe weather conditions, notably droughts and floods in parts of Europe and severe droughts in Australia. Australia, for example, is experiencing its worst drought since records began in 1900.

“Alongside this is the increase in use of grain for biofuels and an increase in consumption in South East Asia. These events have caused a sharp rise in the global price of grain.

“Retail food prices have not kept up with the cost of living and farmgate prices have failed to keep with retail prices. Consumers are also the victims of the market instability and the increasing prices for food giving the mistaken impression that it is the farmers who are responsible. Farmers can not continue to absorb rising costs any longer.

“Europe must address concerns about food insecurity in a meaningful way and as part of the CAP Health Check undertake an in-depth analysis of world market trends, including the increased demand for food in developing countries, in order to consider, as part of the CAP Health Check, the creation of permanent mechanisms to guarantee an adequate market supply in the future.”

East Antrim MLA Ken Robinson has called upon the PSNI to follow the example of Bedfordshire Police who are involved in a pilot scheme designed to use specially adapted hi-tech Canadian-made BlackBerry 8700 devices as part of a crack down on crime.

Mr Robinson explained, “Bedfordshire is one of six pilot schemes currently assessing the system. This approach is designed to eliminate that area referred to as “dead time” that is when an officer on patrol is required to complete paperwork on his return to the station.

“Officers using the system can, as a result of this BlackBerry 8700 device, remain on the streets where the public increasingly want them to be seen. It also enables the policeman, while still on his beat, to quickly check crucial details such as car ownership, previous convictions and photographs of missing or wanted persons. Initial responses from the police are positive with delays in sourcing vital centrally held information being dramatically reduced. This increases the time made available for a high visibility presence on the streets especially in crime hotspots.”

Mr Robinson added, “The public in Northern Ireland are seeking a “zero tolerance” approach towards crime and thuggery and are demanding a more visible and active police presence on our streets. This technology, if these pilot schemes are evaluated as successful, would appear to hand another valuable and vital tool to the front line officers on the beat as they battle to deliver the service levels that the public is expecting.”

Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson, in a keynote address at a major dairy conference organised by the Irish Farmer’s Union in County Monaghan, told delegates that food and energy security would be the two major challenges facing Europe in the years ahead.

Speaking at the event Mr Nicholson said,

“Rising animal feed prices, as many of you will know, have shone the spotlight on the issue of food security for the first time in Europe since the Second World War. This issue has impacted upon many farmers in Northern Ireland. The milk lakes and Butter Mountains have all disappeared and what we are left facing now is an issue over the security of the food supply in Europe.

“Recent disputes have proven that Europe can no longer depend on or trust Russia to supply Europe’s gas and as such we must become more self reliant in this area. This will mean more diversification into alternative energy sources and a heavier reliance on new technologies and renewables. As many of you will be aware the biofuels market presents many new opportunities for the farmer, if European Governments are prepared to put the money into the research and development of this area.”

Turning to the dairy industry Mr Nicholson said,

“The upcoming CAP Health Check will pave the way for an ending of milk quotas in 2015 but this must be properly controlled and managed to give a soft landing for the industry. Over the next 12 months price levels should hold steady but it will depend on global market prices being maintained.

“At the present moment the most important thing of all is that demand is outstripping supply and I hope farmers bear this in mind – namely that they would be better off producing 10% less milk but receiving 20% more. I do hope this change will not result in rapid expansion in the Industry.

“The future developments in the World Trade Organisation talks will also bring extra pressure to bear on the industry. I believe that what our farmers and consumers need is clear labelling of origin so that consumers have a guarantee that they are buying food produced to the highest of European standards. It its time to move this issue forward.”

Following today’s debate on the requirement handed down by the Courts to the Department of Health to issue guidelines on the legal termination of pregnancy, Ulster Unionist MLAs John McCallister and Danny Kennedy have welcomed Health Minister Michael McGimpsey’s statement that he is not seeking and will not seek to change Northern Ireland’s abortion law.

Mr. McCallister said, “today’s debate on abortion clearly shows that opinion in the Assembly remains resolutely opposed to any attempt to extend the 1967 Act to Northern Ireland. Both the motion and the amendment reaffirmed and reasserted the existing legal position – that abortion is unlawful except when necessary to save the mother’s life or to prevent her physical or mental harm. As I stated in my speech, I oppose the extension of the 1967 Act to Northern Ireland and any attempt to undermine the existing law in this part of the United Kingdom. It is of fundamental importance that the Department of Health, in discharging its legal obligation to bring forward guidelines on the lawful termination of pregnancy, ensures that the guidelines are entirely consistent with the existing law. It is therefore to be welcomed that the Minister has said that the proposed guidelines are being reviewed to ensure that this is so”.

Mr. Kennedy also emphasized the strong support within the Assembly for maintaining Northern Ireland’s present abortion law. He said, “as a member of the Assembly’s All-Party Pro-Life Group, I – like my colleague John McCallister – am firmly opposed to any attempt to undermine Northern Ireland’s existing abortion law. The 1967 Act which applies in the rest of the UK has resulted in more than 1 in 5 pregnancies in GB ending in an abortion. No right-thinking person can accept such a situation as desirable. This is why the amendment moved by myself and my colleague explicitly stated that the guidelines to be brought forward by the Department must be consistent with the existing law. I welcome the Minister’s clear and unambiguous declaration that he is not seeking and will not seek to change Northern Ireland’s abortion law”.

Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader and Newry and Armagh MLA Danny Kennedy today expressed his disgust at the brutal murder of 21 year Paul Quinn who was apparently set upon by a gang and added if the IRA were involved it could have political consequences.

In a statement Mr Kennedy said,

“The community will feel utter revulsion at this murder and the manner in which it was carried out, reminiscent of a lynching gang from the deep south.

I would urge full co-operation from the community with the Police in ensuring that those responsible for this disgusting act of murder are brought to justice and thrown behind bars.

If as allegations suggest, the IRA was involved in the murder of Mr Quinn it could have political consequences.”

Ulster Unionist Agriculture spokesman and Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Tom Elliott today called for the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) to be abolished. Mr Elliott says that with a minimum wage already in place, there is no need for such a discriminatory scheme. In a statement Mr Elliott said,

“All parties agreed to the UFU 5 point plan prior to this year’s assembly elections. This included contributions in the Assembly chamber at a debate on 8th Jan 2007 when both Michelle Goldernew and Catriona Ruane said they wanted the AWB abolished.

In answer to my question last week, Minister Gildrnew said she would not abolish the AWG. Agricultural workers, like all workers, are already protected by the national minimum wage.

Why should agricultural employers be discriminated against? No other industry has such a wages scheme, all others use the national minimum wage.

Sinn Fein says they are trying to protect minority groups by retaining the AWB. What is the difference in agricultural employees and minority groups who work in other industries, like restaurants, supermarkets, the health service, childcare etc?”

Ulster Unionist Regional Development spokesman Fred Cobain today raised his objections to Minister Conor Murphy’s proposals on water charges. The North Belfast MLA said he could not support any moves which saw every household in Northern Ireland paying, in some shape or other, for water.

In a statement Mr Cobain said,

“Thousands of the poorest and most vulnerable pensioners, working poor and near benefit-level families will all be worse off after today’s statement and will feel cheated that the right noises that Sinn Fein and others were making before the election with regards to water charges have been brushed under the carpet.

The DUP promised a financial package that would offset water charges, their leader pledged and committed himself to securing a financial package and indeed sought and secured a mandate to do so. They didn’t deliver and now in cahoots with Sinn Fein Minister Murphy we are now seeing water charges being brought up for discussion with a view to eventual implementation.

I cannot and will not support water charges that will hit the most vulnerable and needy in society.”