Ms Ritchie met with the Minister responsible for Fisheries last month to emphasise the importance of fishing as a contributor to the local economy in South Down. Speaking at a debate in the House of Commons onTuesday 15th November, on the Common Fisheries Policy which is due to be reviewed by the European Commission this [...]

SDLP MP MLA Margaret Ritchie has written to the Minister of Agriculture to demand the completion of the Feasibility Study on the Leitrim River. Ms Ritchie stated, “DARD Rivers Agency undertook an investigation into the flooding that occurred in Annsborough and Maghera in 2008. Indications suggest that this report will issue in March 2012, and [...]

“I welcome, what I hope will be one of many projects to be funded by NITB to promote and develop the St Patrick tourism product that we have to offer in Lecale and Down. NITB will fund this project to deliver a replacement church hall to include exhibition space and visitor amenities along with car [...]

Ritchie demands delivery for the people from the European Union programmes. Time taken to assess applications is causing immense burdens to applicants and must be reduced from the current 1 to 2 year framework. Margaret Ritchie said “The people of South Down are being short-changed by the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Special [...]

Margaret Ritchie MP was accompanied by Mr Alan McCulla, Chief Executive of ANIFPO to meet with DEFRA Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon. Speaking after the meeting at DEFRA Headquarters in London, the South Down MP said; “As we approach the annual fisheries negotiations in Brussels, during which the DEFRA Minister will take the lead in negotiating [...]

SDLP MP MLA Margaret Ritchie has written to the Minister for Agriculture, Ms Michelle O’Neill MLA, to request priority for a Feasibility Study on the Leitrim River. Ms Ritchie stated, “Annsborough and Maghera in particular experienced heavy floods during the summer of 2008 and Rivers Agency has been carrying out detailed investigations into the Leitrim [...]

Following the publication of the European Commission’s quota proposals South Down MP Margaret Ritchie said; “These proposals are unworkable and unrealistic, much like the proposals we see coming before the industry from the European Commission at this time each year. The proposed attack on the Nephrops catch is illogical, as are the drastic cuts proposed [...]

SDLP MP Margaret Ritchie has raised the issue of the need for greater access to fibre optic broadband in rural areas across South Down with the Minister for Enterprise, Ms Arlene Foster MLA. Ms Ritchie stated, “It is imperative that efforts are made to bridge the “digital divide” between residents in urban areas – who [...]

Margaret Ritchie, SDLP Assembly Member for South Down and Minister for Social Development, attended the Balmoral show this week meeting with constituents from South Down, and the agricultural community across Northern Ireland.

Margaret Ritchie SDLP Assembly Member for South Down has welcomed the launch of the Ards Down Area Plan, released on Monday the 30^th of March, some twelve years after the expiry of the last Plan.