SDLP QUESTION DARD ON BEEF BURGER SCARE!

Byrne Questions DARD Minister on Burger Scare.

Joe Byrne SDLP MLA and Agriculture spokesperson this week questioned the practices of the food processing sector where horse DNA was found to be in some beefburgers on sale in Britain and Ireland.

Speaking today regarding the burger contamination issue, Mr Byrne said; “after phone calls from concerned farmers, I have submitted an urgent question to the DARD Minister Michelle O’Neill seeking an explanation on what DARD intend on doing in relation to the marketing of beef burgers in the North of Ireland, which could potentially contain traces of horse DNA.

I believe that DARD must strenuously investigate this very important issue and give particular attention to the function and operation of meat processing plants, particularly in ensuring that high standards of food processing and safety are adhered to.

Many consumers and indeed the farming industry require reassurance by the Governing authorities that the highest standards of food production and safety are maintained when it comes to the marketing of food products in supermarkets.

The Northern Ireland food industry is greatly dependant on its quality assurance reputation. Therefore, consumers local and otherwise must be reassured.

The farmers of this region work extremely hard to produce quality food produce, which affords traceability of all their produce. Farmers are angry that meat plants that often pay lower farmgate prices are not as vigilant as they should be in their processing methods. This current beef saga is not related to farming practices but related to food processing plants that may have used some imported products in the production of their burgers.

 Mr Byrne, Vice Chair of the Assembly DARD Committee concluded by stating ‘Our £4 billion agri-food industry must not be jeopardised through any poor practices of the food processing sector. Our Northern Ireland Economy depends on exporting 80% of all food produced here. Quality assurance must be the motto of all concerned’.

Kelly: Minister must clarify future of Strabane Housing Executive office!

SDLP Strabane councillor Patsy Kelly said the Social Development Minister must provide clarity regarding the future of the Housing Executive office in Strabane.

Cllr Kelly said the office was vital for tenants and staff alike.

He was speaking after the announcement that the NIHE was to lose landlord status for the 90,000 homes under its care.

He said: “I’m calling on the Minister for Social Development Nelson McCausland to clarify the future of the staff at Strabane Housing Executive office.

“Will Strabane be designated landlord function? How will that be selected? What are the implications for existing Housing Associations? What work if any will be done to allay the fears of local NIHE staff whose morale is at an all-time low and stress at an all-time high given the inevitable impact of Welfare Reform on housing and on jobs in Housing Benefit?

“The Strabane office is a vital link for people in housing need where they can have face-to-face discussion with people they know and who are best placed to help them. There have been rumours that there will be a local hub set up and that the new hub which will cover Strabane will be based in Derry. This needs clarity immediately.

“Many people who need the local office simply cannot afford to travel to Derry or even further afield to tackle problems they may have with housing.

"NIHE has performed a hugely important role for over 40 years and has, in the main, done so with distinction.

“This decision has caused no little amount of fear, anxiety and stress to local people and staff. That cannot continue.”

Cllr Rosemarie Shields Welcomes Community Funding for Carrickmore

Mid-Tyrone SDLP Councillor Rosemarie Shields has welcomed the assurance from the Electricity Supply Board, that they will be providing a community fund for the residents of the Carrickmore area. Money for the community fund will be generated through Crockagarran Wind Farm on the Whitebridge Road in Carrickmore.

Cllr. Shields said “I am delighted to announce that I have secured a commitment from ESB to provide a community fund for the benefit of the residents of the immediate area. This will consist of a minimum £25,000 per annum and will be released in the first quarter of 2013.”

“In the current economic climate all funding is being cut in an attempt to save money. These cuts will have a detrimental effect on organisations within the community, in being able to provide much needed services.  I know these wind farm community funds will be a vital source of income for hard-pressed voluntary and community groups, allowing them to continue their work within the Carrickmore area.

“I would urge everyone in the area to watch out for notification in the local press and take full advantage of the funding being made available. If anyone would like further help with applying for funding please do not hesitate to contact myself at home or through the Omagh SDLP Advice Centre at 9B Dromore Road, Omagh or call 028 8225 0060.”

SINGLE FARM PAYMENT DELAYS UNACCEPTABLE!

Byrne Questions Minister on Single Farm Payment Delays

Joe Byrne SDLP MLA and Deputy Chair of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development questioned the DARD Minister in a debate on SFP in the assembly on Tuesday 14^th January on the delays in SFP that are affecting many farmers in the region.

He said that ‘the SFP is the farmer’s entitlement not a bonus or benefit and is the largest item of revenue that the farmer receives. Delays in payments due to slow processing have a knock on affect as farmers will generally need to buy or owe money for feeds and fertilisers. Delays add pain and frustration to farmers and their suppliers who are all being put under pressure by banks.’

‘Farmers want the Minister to take urgent steps to alleviate the farmers’ problems in relation to and particularly those who have experienced delayed and repeated inspections and consequential delayed payments.  In many cases these are not the fault of the farmer.’

The local economy is also dependent on these payments as when the farmer gets the money it will go into the economy and generate more spending.

Acute Mental Services Must be retained in Omagh!

In response to the closing of the consultation period on Transforming Your Care Joe Byrne SDLP MLA for West Tyrone has urged the Minister to retain acute mental health services in Omagh.

In his submission he puts forward the view that there is no medical evidence to support having acute mental health services next to an acute hospital. He said ‘When the decision was made to build an acute mental health unit as part of the new enhanced hospital in Omagh the decision to remove the acute medical services had been made. Therefore this was not part of the consideration at this time. I ask the Minister what has changed.

In making a response to the document he states that ‘the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital has served the people of the area for over 100 years and indeed has built up medical and nursing expertise in this area.’

This decision is crucial in determining the role and viability of Omagh’s enhanced hospital and to retain the confidence of the local people in Tyrone

SDLP PROMOTES GREEN EFFICIENCY

SDLP PROMOTES GREEN EFFICIENCY

West-Tyrone Constituency Representative, Daniel McCrossan, this week applauded the efforts of local business man Pat Kirk on his launch of the electric car!

Mr McCrossan said; “it’s great to see that a local business man has decided to push the positives of going green and launch the electric car to the Strabane public. Plug-in electric vehicles have many benefits; they use no petrol or diesel. With fuel prices being a cause of concern to many, the switch to electric vehicles is becoming more appealing for its green edge.”

Unfortunately there is currently no public charge point in the Strabane District. With all the benefits an electric vehicle brings, it is unacceptable that residents of the Strabane District have not yet got this facility to avail of. Green Efficiency must be made a priority and the benefits of the electric car must be promoted throughout the district. I have contacted the relevant departments in relation to these issues and look forward to a response.  

  

“To encourage people to buy and use electric cars, the Government is offering grants of up to £5,000 towards the purchase of a plug-in car. This is a great incentive for motorists, especially if they are concerned about the higher initial costs of an electric car.”

“Furthermore the government has recently announced a grant for electric vans. Purchasers will be able to receive 20 per cent - up to £8,000 - off the cost of a plug-in van which meets the government’s criteria. This will be of great interest to businesses, which can now save on the up-front purchase price of vans as well as on running costs.”

“Although electric vehicles are more expensive to buy, they have significantly lower running costs when compared to petrol or diesel equivalents. It works out that depending on when and how an electric vehicle is charged it will cost 2-4p per mile. This compares to 10-14p per mile for an equivalent petrol or diesel vehicle. That’s an average saving of £900 for every 10.000 miles.”

“Since electric vehicles have no tail pipe carbon emissions, they are therefore exempt from car tax. They also have very few moving parts therefore they require very little maintenance. These are considerable cost savings, especially as cars get older.”

“The benefits of switching to an electric vehicle are huge, especially in terms of savings.

DESTRUCTION OF NIHE WOULD BE DISASTROUS!

SDLP MLA and Party Chairman Joe Byrne has said that the destruction of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive is a disastrous move which will affect thousands of people and put a question mark over the principles which underpinned NIHE.

15th January  disastrous 

The West Tyrone MLA was speaking before the Assembly reconvened from its Christmas break.

He said: “for over 40 years, the Housing Executive stood as the mainstay of ensuring housing allocation based on need and not on creed.

“The principles which underpinned its foundation were both noble and necessary, as much now as in 1971.

“It is not a perfect organisation – there were and remain improvements which need to be made to ensure its effectiveness and efficiency and it was that, rather than its destruction, which my colleagues Margaret Ritchie and Alex Attwood had in mind when they examined the need for a review.

“However, Nelson McCausland’s decision to axe the Executive is disastrous for thousands and, in tandem with his shameful actions in relation to Girdwood last year, raises many questions about the Minister’s commitment to housing allocated on the basis of proven need.

“As of Friday afternoon, the Minister was also refusing to give an oral statement to the house in addition to his written statement of last week, flying in the face of specific advice from the Speaker that he should appear in person to face MLAs on the topic.

“I have called his actions cowardly, and I see no need to revise my opinion.

“My Party Colleague Mark H Durkan, has tabled an urgent oral question for the Minister which I am hopeful of being selected if the Minister refuses to come before the house of his own volition.

“The people of Strabane who are in in need of social housing deserve nothing less than an efficient, effective, well-managed housing authority which will protect them from inequality. The Minister should be helping NIHE to improve, not implode.”