Farm payments too little, too late - Alliance

12.00.00am GMT Mon 22nd Dec 1997

Commenting on todays statement by the Minister of Agriculture , Councillor David Ford, Alliance Spokesperson on Agriculture, said:

"Dr Cunningham's Christmas present to farmers is nothing but a sick joke - tokenism of the worst sort. It is far too little and far too late to address the problems of farmers in every section of agriculture across the UK.

"Northern Ireland alone needed £12 million on HLCAs. Suckler cow and ewe premiums needed to be significantly increased. Something needed to be done for other farmers - dairy, arable and pig producers - to offset the effects of the green pound.

"It is clear that this Government has no concern whatever for such a vital sector of the economy. Little wonder that the Secretary of State and Lord Dubs were not prepared to meet farmers last Friday at Stormont."

ENDS