Northern Irish farmers are facing a delay for help to combat pressing issues they face because there is currently no Executive and no farming minister.
The Northern Ireland Executive collapsed after deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness resigned in protest over the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal.
This triggered the Northern Ireland Assembly election on 2 March. However, political parties could not reach an agreement to form a coalition agreement, with talks having been going on for weeks.
The UK Prime Minister then called a snap general election for 8 June 2017, so a new deadline of 29 June has been set for power-sharing talks in the Executive.
With the Assembly remaining vacant, hard-pressing issues in agriculture are starting to worry farmers. One of the greatest challenges farmers are facing in Northern Ireland is the issue of bovine TB.
The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) says bovine TB is a major issue for farmers, and that the Department of Agriculture (DAERA) officials must make progress a priority, so that when a minister is back in place there will be a plan there for them to approve.
UFU president Barclay Bell said: “Doing nothing, which has been the case since December, is not acceptable to farmers.
“This disease has a devastating impact on farm families and farm businesses and it has not stopped just because we don't have an Executive in place.
“While we might not all agree on the way ahead, we do all agree that something has to be done.
“Tackling TB is a long term challenge – but that cannot be an excuse for kicking the issue into touch. That is not fair to farmers, and indeed it is not fair to taxpayers, who have seen millions of pounds a year spent to achieve nothing, in terms of reducing the incidence of the disease,” said Mr Bell.
TB Strategic Partnership
The government's TB Strategic Partnership Group (TBSPG) proposals were published in December, creating a starting point from which to discuss future policy.
The TBSPG is a high-level advisory group established in 2014. The group was tasked with developing a strategy and implementation action plan to effect a "progressive and sustained" reduction of TB in the cattle population, with a view to eventual eradication.
Mr Bell continued: “Back then we were ready to get into the debate, and indeed we met the TBSPG to discuss some of the positives in their report and some of our concerns. We also believed that the then farming minister, Michelle McIlveen, was willing to take the decisions needed.
“Now the industry is drifting, with no signs of when or how TB eradication can be brought back on course. That is not acceptable. It is officials that advise ministers, and in the absence of a minister there is no reason for those same officials not to work with the industry,” said Mr Bell.
The UFU president added that the lack of political progress could not continually be used as an excuse for inaction.
He said the UFU would be contacting senior DAERA officials to urge them to move TB up the agenda, regardless of whether or not there was political progress at Stormont.
“Realistically, if we wait for a new minister, and then wait for them to be briefed, we are talking about there being no progress on TB eradication this year. That is simply unacceptable,” said Mr Bell.
