Minister has plenty to chew on for tricky cross-border talks

Beef should be on the menu next month, at the 22nd North South Ministerial Council Agriculture meeting.

The Council was established under the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement (1998), to develop consultation, co-operation and action within the island of Ireland on matters of mutual interest. Ministers of the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government work together to take forward co-operation between both parts of the island to mutual benefit.

T he February meeting comes just a few weeks after a comprehensive investigation revealed that cheap cattle south of the border are one of three major reasons why farmers in Northern Ireland get 14p/kg less for beef cattle than their colleagues in mainland Britain.