SDLP Agricultural Spokesperson Joe Byrne has said the Minister for Agriculture Michelle O’Neill has serious questions to ask about how she has and will handle the current crisis in farming as a result of the bad weather.
Mr. Byrne said:
“Since the heavy snowfall on Thursday and Friday we have seen our farming community thrown into turmoil and a crisis erupting over how we prevent any further loss of livestock.
“The severe weather has meant that lambing sheds have collapsed due to the snowfall and animals are dying due to the difficulty in getting food to them. This cannot and should not be acceptable given that it is now four days since the snowfall.
“Today I visited James McHenry in Cushendall to witness the devastation caused by the poor weather first hand. During an inspection of the farm I saw the damage to buildings and a number of lamb casualties.
“I am calling on the Minister to bring about immediate help and aid to farmers who are so badly effect by the severe weather conditions and the effects on their farms.
“The Minister must mobilise all resources possible to assist the farming community, be that helicopters or additional assistance from the southern authorities.
“Urgent action is required to prevent any further loss of animal life or damage to farming buildings and equipment. I believe that if necessary the Agricultural Committee of which I am Vice Chair should be recalled so that we can work to prevent this crisis escalating further.”
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