Republican News · Thursday 26 June 2003

Sinn Féin urges all-Ireland agricultural health policy

Sinn Féin candidate for the Crotlieve by-election, Colm Burns, and his daughter Blathin, were accompanied by Gerry McHugh, Cllr Martin Cunningham and Francie Molloy when they visited the Mart in Hilltown.

Speaking to local farmers, Burns said that several weeks ago, Newry & Mourne Sinn Féin councillors had met with direct rule Minister, Ian Pearson to highlight the plight of the rural community in the area. They urged that he implement an all-Ireland agricultural health policy as the only way forward in dealing with disease outbreaks such as Brucellosis and TB.

"Sinn Féin will work to keep farm families on the land and to support agricultural diversification in mixed and organic farming," said Burns. "We believe that agriculture in Ireland can be sustainable with an all Ireland agricultural policy that is properly structured and has a strong and market orientated product, which has direct support of government and proper European support policies."