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Ulster Unionist Member of the European Parliament Jim Nicholson MEP has said that Government and all aspects of the agricultural industry must work in total partnership if Northern Ireland is to remain Foot and Mouth disease free.

In a statement Mr Nicholson said,

“The European Commission’s decision to acknowledge Northern Ireland’s disease free status should hopefully allow NI farmers to continue exporting abroad without hassle. However, the situation does need to be monitored closely given the problems that were encountered the last time with some of our export markets.

“Once again the priority must be keeping Northern Ireland foot and mouth disease free. Only by the Government and the industry working together in total partnership will that be achieved.

“In London Defra’s immediate task must be to stop the disease spreading further. However farmers will be rightly asking how this has been allowed to happen again so soon after the last outbreak. Farmers have a number of questions about the bio security lapses at Pirbright that this government seems unwilling to answer.

“Yet again I must express my deep disappointment that Sinn Fein have sought to play politics with an issue as sensitive as foot and mouth by releasing a statement calling for a brand Ireland approach to marketing local produce. There is a time and place for these types of discussions. In the middle of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease is certainly neither the time nor place.”

Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has written to the Environment Minister, Arlene Foster and the Tourism Minister, Nigel Dodds, under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, requesting information surrounding their recent announcements on the future of the Giant’s Causeway Visitors Centre.

Mr Nicholson has specifically requested that the Department of the Environment provide him with all documentation surrounding the Minster’s decision to be “of a mind to approve” Seaport Investment’s planning proposal for a visitor’s centre at the Giant’s Causeway, including the Planning Service’s advice to the Minister on Seaport Investment’s proposal and copies of any correspondence the two Ministers may have had on the issue.

In a statement Mr Nicholson said,

“No matter, where I go through Europe and the rest of the world people always talk about the Giants Causeway and how lucky Northern Ireland is to have such a unique and wonderful site. Without question, it is the jewel in Northern Ireland’s tourism crown. A word class tourist attraction requires a world – class visitor’s centre.

“However, such a visitor’s centre should be in public hands for the common good of all in our community. I have very serious concerns about the road the Minister is going down.

“I have requested information from both DOE and DETI, which I feel, given the circumstances and the public interest in the issue, is absolutely essential to obtain, both for transparency and accountability in Government and for gaining a clearer understanding of why both Ministers have arrived at the decisions they have.”

In response to rising animal feed prices, Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has encouraged consumers in Northern Ireland to support local farmers by making the choice at the supermarket to buy local pig and poultry produce first.

Mr Nicholson also welcomed the emergency meeting held last night by the Ulster’s Farmer’s Union in Cookstown, which sought to highlight the issue and the grave crisis facing our pig and poultry producers.

In a statement Mr Nicholson said,

“Buying locally produced food is one way consumers in Northern Ireland can help to support our pig and poultry farmers who, because of huge increases in animal feed prices, are experiencing tough times at the minute. Supermarkets will also have to respond immediately to these worsening market conditions.

“Events on the global stage and at a local level are conspiring against the farming industry in Northern Ireland. The poor weather and flooding during the summer coupled with drought in some of the Southern Hemisphere countries and an increase in demand from the biofuel sector are driving feed prices through the roof and Europe’s zero tolerance approach to GMO produced grain is simply compounding matters further.

“As I warned last week, we have been used, over the past 20 years or so, to low food prices and the availability of an abundance of food within the EU but as the butter and Milk Mountains have melted away, what we could be left facing in Europe in the next 10 to 15 years is a real issue over food security.”

Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has described today’s decision in the High Court to overturn the controversial planning regulation PPS 14 as a ‘victory for Northern Ireland’s rural communities.’

However, he warned that now was the time to address the serious flaws in the planning service, which Mr Nicholson says are “plagued by a lack of accountability and crippling delays.”

In a statement Mr Nicholson said,

“I fully recognise the need for a balanced and pragmatic planning policy which meets the needs and requirements of our fast and ever–changing rural and urban communities. However, communities and families in rural areas across Northern Ireland have suffered greatly because of the ill thought out PPS 14.

“The proposals were too restrictive and didn’t even allow for farm families to build family dwellings on their property. Instead we must have a policy which balances development in rural areas with the need to preserve the character and heritage of those areas. The Government failed to get the consent of rural communities at the outset and as such the regulation was always going to be fatally undermined.

“The Environment Minister must now find an acceptable alternative, which reflects those concerns and also use the opportunity to address the serious flaws in the planning service.

“The current state of the service leaves me hugely dissatisfied. It has failed to serve the public in a transparent, effective and accountable manner. The backlog of proposals is now so high that arguably the system is on the verge of meltdown.

“Delays have brought the planning process to its knees. So much so that development opportunities are put at risk or missed altogether. Delays in the planning process are frustrating job creation, economic development and are partly responsible for a significant shortfall in economic growth in Northern Ireland. Problems with planning are having a destabilising effect on the rural economy compounded by young people not entering the agricultural industry, as they do not see it as a viable career option.”

In response to rising animal feed prices, Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has encouraged consumers in Northern Ireland to support local farmers by making the choice at the supermarket to buy local pig and poultry produce first.

Mr Nicholson also welcomed the emergency meeting held last night by the Ulster’s Farmer’s Union in Cookstown, which sought to highlight the issue and the grave crisis facing our pig and poultry producers.

In a statement Mr Nicholson said,

“Buying locally produced food is one way consumers in Northern Ireland can help to support our pig and poultry farmers who, because of huge increases in animal feed prices, are experiencing tough times at the minute. Supermarkets will also have to respond immediately to these worsening market conditions.

“Events on the global stage and at a local level are conspiring against the farming industry in Northern Ireland. The poor weather and flooding during the summer coupled with drought in some of the Southern Hemisphere countries and an increase in demand from the biofuel sector are driving feed prices through the roof and Europe’s zero tolerance approach to GMO produced grain is simply compounding matters further.

“As I warned last week, we have been used, over the past 20 years or so, to low food prices and the availability of an abundance of food within the EU but as the butter and Milk Mountains have melted away, what we could be left facing in Europe in the next 10 to 15 years is a real issue over food security.”

Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has launched a high profile campaign this evening in the European Parliament in Strasbourg to ban imports of Brazilian beef to the EU.

Mr Nicholson, along with Conservative MEP Neil Parish, Chairman of the European Parliament’s agriculture committee and 3 other MEPs have co sponsored a written declaration in the Parliament calling on the European Commission to ban beef imports from Brazil.

This issue featured high on the agenda when Mr Parish visited Northern Ireland last month to meet with representatives from the local farming industry.

Momentum for a ban on Brazilian beef imports has been growing since the European Parliament’s agriculture committee heard damning evidence in July, about the standards of Brazilian beef, from the Irish Farmers Association and Irish Farmers Journal who visited Brazil in May to investigate the situation.

Speaking from Strasbourg this evening Mr Nicholson said,

“It is time the European Commission took its head out of the sand on this issue. Brazilian beef is banned from entering the US, South Korea and other countries because, time after time, it has been proven to be of a sub – standard nature. Traceability is non-existent, there are no controls at regional borders, no controls on animal movement and there are risks of further Foot and Mouth outbreaks.

“At present Northern Ireland’s farmers must comply with the high standards laid down by the EU in terms of health, food safety and traceability so why shouldn’t imports coming into the EU from other countries do the same? The reality is that if Brazilian beef imports are continued to be allowed into the EU then more and more farmers in Northern Ireland and across Europe risk being put out of business. With the cost of production rising, it is hard to see how our farmers can compete with these cheap imports.”

With less than 2 weeks to go until the start of the 2007 rugby world cup, Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson is this week hosting a major exhibition at the European Parliament in Brussels called, “Rugby - a sport for all.”

The Chairman of the International Rugby Board, Dr Syd Millar will be attending the exhibition. The Ballymena rugby hero will of course be no stranger to Ulster and Irish rugby fans.

In addition to Dr Millar former England rugby international, Rob Andrew, now Head of elite rugby at the RFU and the European Commissioner for Sport, Jan Figel will also be attending.

Speaking from Brussels this evening Mr Nicholson said,

“I am absolutely delighted to be involved in hosting this event, especially at a time when, because of the rugby world cup, there is an immense amount of interest in rugby. Through this exhibition we will be able to demonstrate the role rugby plays at community level throughout the EU and beyond in improving health, social inclusion and equality.

“The RFU is taking the lead in the exhibition with the support of a number of other national rugby federations. The exhibition includes participation by a number of rugby-based charities: Touraid, Kitaid and Wooden Spoon who are involved in various projects aimed at helping children in both the EU and the developing world.”

(l - r) Jim Nicholson MEP, Lord Maginnis, Martyn Thomas Chairman of the Rugby Football Union and Syd Millar Chairman of the International Rugby Board try out a Rhino Scrum Machine at the recent exhibition, “Rugby - A sport for all” hosted by Jim Nicholson at the European Parliament in Brussels.

Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson warned today that the Northern Ireland Executive may have to consider intervening in the ongoing row over Aer Lingus plans to move its Shannon/Heathrow routes to Belfast to ensure that the Aer Lingus decision to base its new UK hub at Belfast goes ahead as planned.

In a statement Mr Nicholson said,

“The opportunities and obvious economic benefits that will come from the decision by Aer Lingus to make Belfast its new UK base are being lost because of the crisis created by its decision to move its Shannon/Heathrow routes to Belfast International and the row over pilots pay.

“I am really concerned about the impact all this controversy will have on the Aer Lingus decision and whether the new Aer Lingus investment at Belfast International is in real danger. The intervention of Ryanair has made matters worse. The last thing we want is for Aer Lingus to reconsider their decision and be forced to abandon their plans to locate its new UK hub at Belfast.

“The First Minister and the Executive will have to consider intervening to ensure that the Aer Lingus plans go ahead. It is a situation, which nobody wants to see happen but ultimately may be required if the plans are in danger. Quite clearly, those involved must get a grip on the situation very quickly.

“The reaction of many in the Republic of Ireland has left a bitter taste in the mouth. North/South economic cooperation cannot always benefit one side more than the other. After years of missing out on so much, Northern Ireland deserves to see economic investment of the type Aer Lingus have committed to, which after all was made on a sound, pragmatic economic basis.”

UUP MEP Jim Nicholson said today that the continuing rise in animal feed prices has the ability to put more and more farmers out of business in Northern Ireland.

In a statement Mr Nicholson said,

“Quite clearly the spiralling prices for animal feed, being driven by the world market, mean that farmers should see an increase in the price received for what they produce and as we approach the winter this will become even more of an issue. Not only was last year a disaster but the incoming winter looks no better as returns from the market are abysmal.

“Last week the European Commission’s report into the medium term prospects for agricultural markets and income highlighted the likely decline in beef production within the EU and cited an increase in animal feed prices as being partly responsible for the likely decline. This sector can not continue to absorb the increased costs and survive.

“It is my intention to raise the issue at the earliest opportunity when the European Parliament returns in September. It must be highlighted at a European level because Europe is going to make the problem even worse by their attitude to GMO produced grain and the demand for zero tolerance, which probably will result in even more increases in the months ahead.

“My fear is that if there is not a significant increase to the farmer for what he produces and if the supermarkets do not support the local economy by buying local produce rather that the cheaper, inferior imported products, farmers will quit producing and while the consumers will have short term cheap food the long term implications will be disastrous.”

Ulster Unionist Member of the European Parliament Jim Nicholson MEP has said the intervention of Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O’Leary in the row over Aer Lingus plans to fly from Belfast International to London Heathrow smacked of sour grapes and was extremely unhelpful.

Mr O’Leary’s Ryanair own a 25% stake in Aer Lingus and announced today that he wants and extraordinary general meeting of shareholders to take place where the proposed plans could be blocked.

In a statement Mr Nicholson said,

“Mr O’Leary’s intervention today could ultimately jeopardise not just Aer Lingus plans to fly from Belfast International to London Heathrow but also put at risk their plans to fly to other European destinations from Belfast International, which in economic terms would be a disaster.

“At the end of the day, Mr O’Leary is not acting in the best interests of the people of Shannon or of Belfast but in the best interests of himself and his company.

“His reaction is nothing but sour grapes and I would encourage him to look at ways of how he can expand Ryanair’s services from Northern Ireland on the back of recent announcements, instead of playing silly games with Aer Lingus’s move to Belfast International.”