Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has said that Agriculture is too important to the Northern Ireland economy to be used for political point-scoring.
Mr Nicholson said:
“As we approach the end of another hugely successful Balmoral Show, we can only hope that we see some political maturity developing in how the Agriculture industry is developed in Northern Ireland.
“Never in my political lifetime have I played politics with Agriculture and it saddens me that some have done so. The agri-food industry is too important to Northern Ireland to be caught up in political point-scoring. If the industry is used as a bargaining tool in inter-departmental spats at Stormont, then we will all suffer.
“We need to see a common sense approach adopted for the sake of the future of the industry, the farmers and the economic prosperity of Northern Ireland. Agriculture is a cornerstone for economic growth and should be treated as such.”