Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA (DARD) met with Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (DAFF), Mary Coughlan TD, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DCRGA), Eamon O'Cuiv TD and Environment Minister Arlene Foster MLA (DOE) at the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) Agricultural Sector meeting in Fermanagh.
Minister Gildernew hosted the NSMC meeting at the college of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise's (CAFRE) Enniskillen Campus. At the latest meeting the Ministers discussed a range of issues, including co-operation on animal health and welfare, rural development, free movement of animals, plant health and Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform.
Speaking after the meeting Minister Gildernew said: "We have had another very constructive meeting of the NSMC agriculture sector and we have made steady progress on a number of issues covered by the sector.
"As these NSMC meetings develop, we continue to move towards the free movement of animals across the island and a working draft of an all-island health strategy. Similarly as the Rural Development plans north and south begin their roll-out I am very keen to maximise the opportunities that are on offer for rural communities on both sides of the border. If we can identify any projects or initiatives which can enhance border communities lives we will endeavour to deliver.
"The NSMC sectoral meetings provide a good opportunity to explore all Ireland opportunities and work together for the better of all our people. In the interim, I plan to meet with Minister Coughlan again in the near future to keep the co-operation on animal health a high priority."
The Council noted progress on the activities in the draft All-Island Animal Health and Welfare Strategy including:
Agreement on a common chapter in the respective epizootic contingency plans for Foot and Mouth Disease with common chapters for Avian Influenza and Bluetongue to follow.
On-going development of a report on the potential for joint data sharing which is expected to be completed by June 2008.
Continuing examination of the feasibility of a joint approach to the electronic identification of sheep.
The development of common approaches to sheep scrapie genotyping.
Development of a common approach to salmonella in line with an EU baseline report which is due to be published in May 2008.
The Ministers approved further specific measures to progress the all-island approach relating to Aujeszky's Disease in pigs, and, in conjunction with respective food safety/standard agencies, consideration of the hygiene package with respect to the transmission of food chain information with animals going to slaughter and of the feasibility and priority of an all island approach relating to Trichinella in pigs.
Ministers also noted plans for consultation and a future cross-border event with key agriculture stakeholders from both jurisdictions to discuss the all-island strategic approach.
Turning to plant hire the Ministers noted that DARD has developed a draft Plant Health Strategy which includes a section on North-South co-operation consistent with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (DAFF) plant health strategies. They recognised the need to develop a more strategic approach to cross-border co-operation on plant health and pesticides matters and agreed to establish a Steering Group to identify areas of mutual interest in the plant health and pesticides areas.
The Council had a broad wide-ranging discussion on issues of common concern in relation to the EU Common Agriculture Policy. They welcomed recent CAP reforms, in particular the significant simplification which has already been achieved to the Single Farm Payment Scheme. Ministers noted the contents of the CAP Health Check communication from the EU Commission and the EU Council conclusions and requested officials to remain in close contact on CAP issues.
The Council discussed an innovative and strategic approach to collaboration and co-operation on Rural Development Programmes aimed at fostering improved community relations in remote rural areas and complementing the economic regeneration of disadvantaged cross-border regions. In relation to the EU Programmes (2007-2013), Ministers noted the development of proposals for a Rural Enabler Project for submission to the PEACE III Programme. This project aims to bring increase understanding and to work to address issues of sectarianism and racism in a rural context.
