Single Farm Payment: Eligibility

Oral Answers to Questions – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 3:15 pm on 3 February 2014.

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Photo of Paul Girvan Paul Girvan DUP 3:15, 3 February 2014

6. asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, in relation to the current policy on the single farm payment and the exclusion of areas — for example, where the canopy of a tree is causing an area to be excluded from payment — what engagement her Department has had to ensure that those areas will be included. (AQT 656/11-15)

Photo of Michelle O'Neill Michelle O'Neill Sinn Féin

That is an ongoing discussion.  We try to communicate that message to farmers.  When the single farm payment application goes out, we send guidance so that farmers can look at what is and is not eligible.  Those discussions are ongoing with Europe.  A lot of what I said earlier in the conversation about disallowance has come about because of Europe's interpretation of what is deemed eligible and ineligible.  We continue to have that conversation with Europe, but it is most important that we communicate the issue to farmers.

Photo of Paul Girvan Paul Girvan DUP

I thank the Minister for her answer.  A number of farmers whose farms are sited along rivers have taken a scorched earth approach.  Given the current policy, it looks like we will end up with trees being totally cleansed from certain areas.  However, that is having a negative impact on river life and the angling fraternity.  Is there any engagement with those involved in that end of things to see how we can move forward and ensure that we get a united approach to resolving this matter?

Photo of Michelle O'Neill Michelle O'Neill Sinn Féin

I agree with you that we need a united approach, because we want to look after the environment.  We do not want land to be stripped of trees:  we are trying to increase planting, not the opposite.  So it is important that everybody gets together and that, moving forward, anybody who is a partner has that discussion.  We are making sure that we do that.