Rodgers vows to seek lifting of foot-and-mouth ban

All Northern Ireland farmers except those in the Newry and Mourne district - where Ulster’s only foot-and-mouth outbreak occurred four weeks ago - will then be able to start exporting again.

But as two suspected cases in the Irish Republic were declared negative, Mrs Rodgers updated the Stormont Agriculture Committee on Northern Ireland’s efforts to return to normal.

During a heated evidence session she vowed to work to have the remaining restrictions lifted.

‘‘Our next move, disease permitting, will be to have the controls on Newry and Mourne District Council area lifted so that the whole of Northern Ireland is removed from the relevant export controls,’’ she said.

‘‘We will be making that bid once 30 days have elapsed following the cleansing and disinfection at the Meigh outbreak, ie as soon as possible after next Thursday April 5.

‘‘But I have to record that that will not be an easy case to win.’’

Committee chairman the Rev Ian Paisley had earlier launched a stinging attack on the Minister and her department for delays in beginning the cull.

He also claimed they had been held to ransom by rogue farmers in South Armagh seeking promises they wouldn’t face prosecution.

Claiming that negotiations with farmers have delayed the slaughtering process by four days, he told her: ‘‘We are not fools at this table. We know what was discussed at these meetings. We know that an amnesty was asked for.

‘‘I want to know why should we be held up in this province in a very serious situation where the whole farming community has been in jeopardy because officials have to spend time discussing what is not in their bailiwick.’’

Mrs Rodgers insisted his claims of a four day delay was inaccurate.

After announcing the cull on Monday evening necessary discussions with farmers meant it couldn’t have started until the following day.

‘‘The earliest it could possibly have started would have been Tuesday evening. It started on Thursday, so we are talking about two days.’’

She added: ‘‘I’m reluctant to call it negotiations because I was addressing legitimate concerns people have expressed.

‘‘Dr Paisley has talked about amnesty. The most important thing is that I addressed legitimate concerns that were expressed to me.

‘‘Things were possibly discussed and asked for which I gave an answer to.’’

Mr Paisley responded: ‘‘I’m glad you said more than compensation was discussed.’’

The Minister also rejected the Democratic Unionist leader’s claims that rendering sheep would be delayed because some BSE-infected livestock had still to be destroyed in this way.

Explaining that BSE carcasses are incinerated rather than rendered, she said: ‘‘My understanding is that 2,500 sheep can be done in 48 hours.’’

Responding to his claims over the cost involved in the operation, Mrs Rodgers said it would be less expensive than burial.

Other members of the committee, including Alliance MLA David Ford and Sinn Fein Assembly man Gerry McHugh disassociated themselves with their chairman’s views.