Unity vital in tackling foot and mouth

A COMMON approach to any threats posed to the island of Ireland by foot and mouth disease, bluetongue and bird flu was endorsed by a North-South ministerial council meeting in Donegal yesterday.

Respective agriculture ministers, Mary Coughlan and Michelle Gildernew, said this co-operation ensured such an approach was adopted in dealing with recent outbreaks of these diseases in Britain while maintaining trade levels.

They described the collaborative work undertaken in response to the outbreaks as having been mutually beneficial.

Both ministers restated that the free movement of animals on the island continues to be the ultimate aim of the animal health and welfare strategy and that the way forward is through co-operation and the development of complementary policies.

On plant health, they agreed that North-South co-operation should focus on the status of pests and diseases threatening the island’s plant health and co-operation on EU Union matters.

Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Éamon Ó Cuív and the North’s Environment Minister Arlene Foster also attended the meeting.

Other topics discussed included the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and rural development. It was agreed that officials from the respective departments should remain in close contact on a range of key CAP issues.

Mr Ó Cuív said the North and the Republic face similar challenges in terms of rural areas and the development of the rural economy.