Following the announcement that Schmallenberg virus has been discovered in Co Cork, Ulster Unionist MLA Robin Swann has written to the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development to ask what steps are being taken to stop the spread of this disease to Northern Ireland.
Mr Swann, who sits on the Assembly’s Agriculture committee said:
“The Agriculture Minister has in the past taken a purely political stance on these issues in calling for a ‘fortress Ireland’ approach.
Clearly on this issue that approach is no longer viable and the Minister must outline the steps she will take to limit the potential for this disease to spread and affect the Northern Ireland agricultural sector.
Given that the Assembly is now in recess, I have written directly to the Minster asking for her to take urgent action to create a ‘fortress Northern Ireland’ approach."