BYRNE CALLS EMERGENCY MEETING ON FARMING CRISIS!

Vice Chair of the Agriculture Committee Joe Byrne has this morning called for an emergency meeting of the agriculture and rural development committee to discuss the ongoing lack of coordination on the collective responce needed to the farming crisis.

SDLP: Unemployment Figures Point To Failed Strategies

SDLP MLA Joe Byrne  has expressed concern that new unemployment figures show efforts made by the economic ministries in the Executive are not working, and has called for Ministers to 'get real' on job creation.

Wed 20th March

Mr Byrne said:

“The news today that 1,923  people are currently in receipt of unemployment benefit in the Strabane area is a worrying upward trend, and should serve as a wakeup call to Executive Ministers that their attempts to revive the economy are not working. Almost 65,000 people across the North are now out of work, a large - and growing proportion of those are young people. I have long called for the Department of Employment and Learning in particular to get serious about the impact joblessness is having on the next generation, and for too long they have offered piecemeal platitudes and PR stunts.

All our economic departments must realise that until we can tackle unemployment head on by creating sustainable jobs and attracting long term investment, we are condemning those we serve to a bleak future, and the SDLP has not and will not stand silent and allow the responsible Ministers and their departments to continue to fail and the economy flounders.

BYRNE ADDRESSES EU AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES CONFERENCE IN DUBLIN CASTLE

 

SDLP Agricultural spokesperson and Vice Chair of the Assembly Agricultural Committee, Joe Byrne has spoken at the meeting of Chairpersons of the Agricultural and Fisheries Committees of the EU in Dublin.

Main speakers at the conference included Mr Declan Ciolos, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Maria Damanaki, EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries as well as Minister Simon Coveney, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine in Ireland. 

Mr Byrne said:

“I welcomed the opportunity to participate in this conference with a number of distinguished speakers including the Minister of Agriculture Simon Coveney TD who is leading the CAP reform proposals as the current president of the EU Council on Agriculture.

This is an important opportunity for Ireland, who currently holds the Presidency of the EU to discuss crucial issues around our Agricultural and Marine sectors.

The conference meeting had 3 main themes; CAP and its future, Young Farmers and the Reform of the CFP.

Minister Simon Coveney TD is keen to have CAP linked to not only land acreage but to productivity and compliance.

I contributed to the debate on young farmers supporting special grant aid support for them on entering the industry.

In relation to the Common Fisheries Policy I welcomed the recent ending of fish discards and supported innovation and change initiatives for new fishing gear. I also raised the issue concerning Northern Ireland fisherman relating to fish quota criteria alongside ‘days at sea’ restrictions.

This was a major EU conference which I was privileged to attend and participate in as Vice Chair of the Assembly DARD Committee.’

Byrne hails ‘positive’ meeting with Taoiseach

SDLP Chairman and MLA Joe Byrne has spoken of the need for the Dublin Government to fulfil its role as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement and lend its full backing to the PSNI, Parades Commission, a meaningful reconciliation process and off course the A5..

‘’Strabane, as a regional town sitting on the border, needs to see some significant Government investment support over the next year in order to redress the economic neglect and curse of unemployment. As an SDLP MLA for West Tyrone, I will continue to highlight the neglect of Strabane over recent decades since partition.

The people of Strabane, particularly the young, need to see evidence that the Stormont Executive and its Ministers are listening and willing to deliver investment and job opportunities for the people of Strabane and district.

Strabane is a regional town and, along with Lifford in Co Donegal, needs to benefit from joint Government action with a major cross-border project which heralds a new beginning for North-South Cooperation at a local and practical level. 

The Three Rivers Project is in effect a Golden Opportunity for the Strabane and Lifford catchment area. In addition to the retail proposals the promoters have stated its job creation potential regarding incorporating a purpose built, State-Of-The-Art Employment Park.

It is crucial at this time that the Government authorities invest in the Riverine Project, and thus trigger the private sector investment being proposed for the three rivers initiative. Given that the Three Rivers is essentially an edge of town cross border North South Project it needs support from central and local Government agencies, including DOE planning.

This type of project can greatly facilitate an opportunity for decentralisation of a Government Office, and provide a strong example of having balanced regional level across the North, particularly to a western Town like Strabane that needs a strong positive signal by Government authorities on both sides of the border.

The Special EU Programmes body which has signalled grant aid support for the riverine project must be welcomed and endorsed as the trigger mechanism to bring about the necessary private sector investment which is required in this area.

The SDLP have always supported practical North/South Cooperation, and we see this project as a possible flagship project for Strabane and district. The potential of this development must be realised and welcomed, particularly when the construction industry is in need of capital projects to get started.

BYRNE: EMERGENCY ACTION AND AID REQUIRED FOR FARMERS

 

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.”

STEWART: COUNCIL NEED TO ACT ON VANDALISM!

Sh. SDLP Councillor Liam Stewart has hit out at thugs following another spate of vandalism to Castle place at Strabane town centre last night. (Monday)

"As a forum member, as an SDLP Representative, the clean up of our town centre has been at the top of the agenda for many months. The town forum, town traders and business owners will not tolerate any vandalism to our town and will continue to promote the many good things our town has to offer both residents and tourists alike"

To damage our town centre at this difficult economic time is quite simply reckless and selfish.

"I have discussed this matter with various business owners this afternoon and many shared in my disgust of this unjustifiable act of destruction. One shop owner explained how they have been subjected to ongoing torture by large groups of young people almost every night of he week. The police have been monitoring the area but little damage or problems are. Avoided. The tree which was only planted a number of weeks ago had been broken off at the stump and used to beat shutters along the town centre premises an then left outside a local chemist? It's time these vandals took pride in their town instead of trying to destroy the progress being made."

"Have these vandals no respect for their town, for their identity? If these inconsiderate individuals cannot leave the small insignificant things alone, such as tree planting, seating or shrubbery, then how can we deliver the bigger picture for our town and people."

Byrne welcomes improvements to Doneyloop Road in Clady

Byrne welcomes improvements to Doneyloop Road in Clady

This week West-Tyrone SDLP MLA Joe Byrne has welcomed the on-going improvements to the Tullymoan Road between Clady and Doneyloop.

Mr Byrne said “I am very pleased to see the work being carried out on this stretch of road between Clady and Doneyloop. In the last number of months The SDLP Team in Strabane has been contacted on a number of occasions by various Clady residents, looking for repair works to be carried out as the road was littered with potholes.”

“The potholes were a concern for residents who were worried at the damage being to their cars when using the road. The Doneyloop Road can be extremely busy on occasions, especially during Mass times at the local St. Columba’s Church. I am also pleased to welcome the placement of footpaths on the road to accommodate pedestrians walking between Clady and Doneyloop, and again for any one walking to the local church.”

“The Strabane SDLP team has been lobbying both Strabane District Council and Donegal County Council for work like this to be carried out. The work is on-going and due to be completed within the next six weeks”.