Assembly discusses farmers' plight
The Stormont Assembly debated the problems in the agriculture
industry on Monday afternoon; in particular the crisis facing
pig-farmers. Sinn Fein Assembly member for Mid-Ulster Francie
Molloy said, ``the decline in agriculture over the past number of
years has left many farmers wondering is this a deliberate policy
by the British government, in conjunction with the EU, to wind
down the entire industry''.
He continued, ``the delay in setting up departments under
appropriate ministers is contributing to the delay in enabling us
to deal with the crisis''.
Widening the debate West Tyrone Assembly member Barry McElduff
said, ``farmers generally are faced with a quite despairing
situation. Many are under unbearable strain having suffered a
succession of body blows, the seriousness of which has never been
properly addressed either by the EU or the British government.''
McElduff said that agriculture ``is evidently one crucial area
where strategic development on an all-island basis makes complete
sense.''
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