I understand from speaking to those within the fishing industry that the announcement by Minister O’Neill  of her support to end discards, with the introduction of  a research and development fund to “help end discards” via the European Fisheries Fund, and the continuation of skills and safety training is not news for them, and that [...]

  News that the Minister for Agriculture has secured the Executive’s agreement to direct £1million to help farmers facing difficulties with fodder shortages is welcome. However, for many farmers this news is long overdue. I have been pursuing the Minister on this matter since mid 2012, when it became apparent that the bad weather conditions [...]

  South Down SDLP Member of Parliament, Margaret Ritchie has called the DARD Minister to recognise the plight of the fishing industry due to bad weather and other circumstances and establish a Hardship Fund   Margaret Ritchie said today   “Two of the three fishing ports in Northern Ireland are situated in South Down – [...]

SDLP South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has said an announcement by DARD Minister Michelle O’Neill that the department’s fisheries division is to relocate to South Down is a very welcome, if overdue, piece of news.   Ms Ritchie said: “I have been campaigning tirelessly since the Minister announced the decentralisation of DARD  for her to [...]

Following representations to the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development on behalf of farming constituents who experienced structural damage to their farm buildings as a result of the heavy snowfall in March, I am deeply disappointed by the Minister’s response that she will not be making compensation available to those farmers affected by damage to [...]

The terrible weather conditions of the last twelve months and rapidly rising costs of production have demonstrated just how crucial the Single Farm Payment (SFP) is to farmers.  Farm income statistics for 2012 show that without the SFP, farmers would have lost money last year.  This stark information highlights the disadvantage farmers who do not [...]

  Margaret Ritchie MP sought detail of the Bad Weather Hardship Fund, specifically if the value of the lost animal will be based on the value of the animal at time of death or projected value of the animal at time of sale. Speaking after receiving the Ministers response to this request for clarification the [...]

The new Fish Market and Ice Plant is a great resource for the harbour of Ardglass and is central to ensuring we have a  productive and sustainable future for our local fishing industry. The Northern Ireland Harbour Authority must be commended for bringing this project to completion with the assistance of monies from the European [...]

SDLP South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has argued for the implementation of a taskforce to deal with the restoration and renewal of upland farms. Ms Ritchie was speaking yesterday during an adjournment debate in the House of Commons on the effect of weather conditions on upland sheep farmers: “This debate provided an essential opportunity to [...]

“It has been three very difficult weeks since the Minister for Agriculture announced her intention to being forward a Hardship Scheme for the farmers effected by the bad weather. In the past three weeks farmers who have had to cope with the loss of animals and farm buildings , have had to continue on with [...]