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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.”

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.”

Tom Elliott UUP Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA and Vice-Chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee today said he was concerned that some EU countries were trying to capitalise and make a financial gain in their own markets by obstructing Northern Ireland exports because of Foot and Mouth disease in the South-East of England.

Mr Elliott was also critical that the UK was continuing to import meat and dairy products from countries where is is known that Foot and Mouth exists and is commonplace. The Vice-Chair also highlighted the worries of some dairy sector producers who are stockpiling products amid concerns that their produce would be returned.

In a statement Mr Elliott said,

“It appears that, as in the previous outbreak, some EU states are trying to obstruct the entry of our meat and dairy products to their market. This is being done for their own financial gain and is illegal. However given that the fines for doing this are so negligible it is unlikely that we will see this practice halted.

Additionally I cannot see the logic in the UK continuing to import meat and dairy products from third countries that are known to have foot and mouth disease.

Lastly, despite rthe rosy picture being painted by the Department of Agriculture, my understanding is that a number of dairy processors are currently stockpiling produce because of fears that their products will be returned.

As a matter of urgency I would call on the Minister to help alleviate these fears and use whatever influence she has to ensure that our exports are not hindered nor obstructed illegally.”

UUP MEP Jim Nicholson is set to meet with the First and Deputy First Minister tomorrow where he will tell them that they must redouble their efforts to secure a financial package for Northern Ireland.

Mr Nicholson requested the meeting with the First Minister after MEPs were excluded from the meeting Dr Paisley and his deputy Martin McGuiness had with the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barosso when he visited in May.

Speaking ahead of the meeting Mr Nicholson said,

“Securing a financial package for a restored Executive is absolutely essential for Northern Ireland’s future social and economic progress. I will tell Dr Paisley tomorrow that he must put his money where his mouth on this issue and deliver for the people of Northern Ireland.

“My fear is that this whole issue is being conveniently brushed under the carpet, despite the huff and puff from the DUP and Sinn Fein during the Assembly election that a financial package was a make or break precondition for entering a devolved Executive.

“Of course I will asked to be briefed on the recent visit of the European Commission President and would like to know what financial requests, if any, the First Minister has made to the European Commission in Brussels. I will also be discussing the recent visit of Commissioner Hubner and the proposed taskforce being set up in Brussels to assist Northern Ireland in accessing other areas of European funding.

“At the time I was extremely disappointed that the First Minister did not follow established protocol for the visit of a European Commissioner and invite MEPs to meet with Mr Barosso. It took the First Minister sometime to confirm that he would agree to meet with me to discuss these issues but as always I look forward to exploring ways in which the European Parliament can assist the Northern Ireland Executive in furthering progress in Northern Ireland.”

Ulster Unionist Member of the European Parliament Jim Nicholson MEP today accused the European Commission of being in denial about the safety of Brazilian beef imports after it once again refused to ban imports of Brazilian beef into the EU.

Mr Nicholson was speaking as the European Parliament’s agriculture committee heard evidence from the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) and the Irish Farmers’ Journal, which launched a joint investigation into Brazilian beef - reporting virtually no system of traceability, the illegal removing of tags and the use of illegal growth hormones.

Mr Nicholson along with 4 other MEPs will lodge a ‘written declaration’ calling for an import ban on Brazilian beef when the Parliament returns in September.

Speaking after the meeting Mr Nicholson said,

“The European Commission seems to be in denial about the safety of Brazilian beef imports and quite clearly their credibility is at stake here on this issue.

“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 after outbreaks of Foot and Mouth and BSE in recent years so why shouldn’t imports coming into the EU from other countries do the same? The farming community in Northern Ireland is acutely aware of the impact cheap Brazilian imports have had on the market here.

“The agriculture committee was not satisfied with the answers being supplied by the European Commission and has called a special meeting after the recess where the agriculture and health Commissioners will be both invited.”

Ulster Unionist Member of the European Parliament Jim Nicholson MEP has backed farmer’s calls for the European Commission to scrap set aside for next year which places up to 10% of their land out of production.

The National Farmers Union made the demand this week amid concerns over shortages of wheat and other cereals due to the floods in the UK and drought in other areas of Europe.

Mr Nicholson also called on the agriculture Minister to Michelle Gildernew to support the move.

Speaking from Brussels Mr Nicholson said,

“Given the expected shortfall in wheat and other cereal crops next year I think the idea of scrapping set aside for next year makes perfect sense and I would urge our local agriculture Minister to lobby DEFRA in London and the Commission in Brussels over this issue.

“EU Farm Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel, in discussions about the CAP Health Check due next year, has already indicated her intention to look at ending set aside on a permanent basis.

“The benefits to the environment that came from the original scheme are now covered, to a large extent, by rural development schemes and cross compliance and I see no reason why in this current context that the Commission would not allow an end to set – aside for next year to ensure continuity of supply.”

Ulster Unionist Member of the European Parliament, Jim Nicholson MEP has been appointed by his political grouping in the European Parliament to help oversee a key Parliament report into the sheep sector in Europe.

Mr Nicholson was appointed by the EPP – ED to be a shadow rapporteur for the report which will be carried out by Liam Aylward, an MEP from the Republic of Ireland.

Recently Mr Nicholson expressed some concern about the impact the flood of New Zealand lamb into UK supermarkets would have for local lamb producers in Northern Ireland.

The sheep sector is worth 3.5 billion Euros to the European economy alone per annum.

In a statement Mr Nicholson said,

“This is a fantastic opportunity to be involved in the Parliament’s own initiative report about the future of the sheep sector in Europe and is very timely given the recent surge in imports of New Zealand lamb into UK supermarkets.

“EU lamb producers currently provide 78% of all lamb consumed within Europe and whilst we do rely on a certain amount of imports, it is important that when sheep meat is imported it does not drive down the prices for farmers. It is this down turn in prices in sheep meat that I am worried about and which we will be able to investigate in this report.

“We have a quality product on offer in Northern Ireland available to supermarkets at a competitive price. If supermarkets stock more and more New Zealand lamb on their shelves at the expense of local produce all they are going to do is drive local producers in Northern Ireland out of business.”

Ulster Unionist Member of the European Parliament Jim Nicholson MEP has said today that the Northern Ireland Executive must do everything it possibly can to ensure that both Ryanair and Aer Lingus open new routes from Belfast to the rest of the UK and Europe.

Mr Nicholson was speaking after speculation emerged this week that Ryanair were in talks with Belfast City airport about expanding their air routes from Northern Ireland.

Recently Aer Lingus announced it was considering Belfast International airport and Birmingham as a UK base for the airline.

In a statement Mr Nicholson said,

“The ongoing development of our air routes, both domestically and internationally, is essential if we are to maximise Northern Ireland’s economic and tourism potential.

“In terms of air routes Northern Ireland needs greater accessibility into our region if we are to attract more visitors from abroad and grow our tourism industry.

“There are 7 Executive Ministers in the United States this week promoting Northern Ireland and I sincerely hope that on their agenda is the creation of more transatlantic flights to North America from Belfast.

“The Executive must commit to do all it can to encourage air route development from Belfast. Putting all their effort into ensuring Ryanair open up further routes from Belfast would demonstrate this commitment.

“It should be a priority of the new DETI Minister, Nigel Dodds to look at creating a new air route development fund, similar to the one that worked well in the past, which would strengthen existing air routes and develop others.”

UUP MEP Jim Nicholson, speaking after the European Summit ended today, said the Prime Minister had surrendered more powers to Brussels, had made one of the biggest mistakes of his Premiership and called on the British Public to have their say on any new treaty by referendum.

In a statement Mr Nicholson said,

“The Prime Minister has made one of the biggest mistakes of his premiership. Despite assurances in the run up to the summit Mr Blair did not protect the UK’s ‘Red Lines’. Because of the implications of his decisions it is only right and fitting that the British Public should have their say by Referendum on any new treaty or variation thereof.

“I am particularly concerned at a number of our foreign and defence policies being surrendered and subsumed into the European ether along with Policing and Justice matters.

It is clear that the decisions taken by Mr Blair in his last cat as Prime Minister will fundamentally alter how the UK conducts and controls its political affairs within the European Union. Again, because of these changes a referendum is, I believe, necessary.”

Ulster Unionist member of the European Parliament Jim Nicholson MEP has accused Tony Blair and the next Prime Minister Gordon Brown of trying to smuggle the European constitution in through the back door and past the people of Northern Ireland and the UK by refusing to put whatever emerges from tomorrows EU summit in Brussels to a referendum of the British people.

Two days of negotiations between leaders of the 27 EU Member States will begin tomorrow and end on Friday in Brussels.

Speaking from Strasbourg Mr Nicholson said,

“The British Government’s decision to take away the British people’s right to have their say on a new EU Treaty is an affront to democracy. The new EU Treaty likely to emerge from tomorrow’s summit looks suspiciously like the European constitution that was rejected in 2005 by the French and Dutch voters. The name may have changed but the substance is still the same. The Government should stick to the commitment in 2005 they gave to hold a referendum on the constitution back.

“The proposals will have a fundamental effect on the way Europe is governed and take further powers away from Member States. 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 there is a difference between genuine reform and a constitution which would edge us nearer to ‘ever closer union’.

“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.

“The answers to Europe’s problems lie not in ‘ever closer Union’ but in moving forward with practical cooperation on issues such as improving environmental standards, tackling climate change, economic reform and combating global terrorism It would unwise and lacking in common sense for 27 nations not to cooperate on matters like these.”