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Agriculture Business Constituency Government International Lurgan Upper Bann Westminster

25% Tariff on Steel Products Entering Northern Ireland

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has written to the Chancellor to request that he suspend the 25% tariff on steel products entering Northern Ireland. The tariff is being introduced as a result of the Northern Ireland Protocol, after EU quotas for global imports were exhausted. The DUP MP said: “The impact of this tariff will […]

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Agriculture Community Government Politics Stormont

Poots Meets Agri-Food Industry to Discuss Ongoing Challenges Within the Sector

Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Edwin Poots MLA has met with representatives from the Northern Ireland Agri-Food Industry to discuss supply chain pressures and challenges caused by on-going rises in input costs and the cost of living crisis. Minister Poots previously described the pressures on the NI agri-food sector, including rising feed and […]

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Agriculture Climate Community Constituency Council Government Newry Newry and Armagh NMD Council South Down

New Sustainability and Environment Director Welcomed to Council

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has welcomed its new Director of Sustainability and Environment. Andrew Cassells attended his first meeting as Director of the Sustainability and Environment Committee, formerly the Neighbourhood Services Committee, on Wednesday 17 August, where he was welcomed by Committee Chair, Councillor Oonagh Magennis and Vice Chair, Councillor Terry Andrews. Mr […]

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Agriculture Community Constituency Council Government Newry and Armagh NMD Council South Armagh

Magennis Encourages Farmers to Register for Soil Nutrient Health Scheme

Sinn Féin Councillor, Oonagh Magennis, has urged farmers across South Armagh to register for the new Soil Nutrient scheme before the 31st August deadline. The Slieve Gullion Councillor said: “South Armagh and the wider area are included in zone 1 of this scheme, the first area to be covered. “Participation in the scheme will enable […]

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Agriculture Community Constituency Downpatrick Government South Down Stormont

Patrick Brown Engages with DAERA on Quoile River

Patrick Brown MLA last week met with DAERA officials to discuss next steps in responding to concerns raised by a new steering group, Clean up the Quoile. The group is a partnership between local anglers, politicians and Finnebrogue Artisan foods, aiming to bring stakeholders together to restore the Quoile River. Mr Brown said: ‘I am […]

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Agriculture Community Constituency Government Infrastructure Kilkeel South Down Stormont

Patrick Brown Backs Support for Kilkeel Harbour Expansion

Patrick Brown MLA last week met with Kilkeel Development Association and Alan McCulla of Sea Source at Kilkeel Harbour to discuss plans to expand the harbour. Mr Brown said: ‘It was great to be in Kilkeel to discuss the positive plans for community development here – particularly the ambitious plans for the harbour. I look […]

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Agriculture Climate Community Constituency Government Newcastle South Down Stormont

£4million Investment to Boost 47 Environmental Projects

Environment Minister Edwin Poots has announced that 28 organisations are set to benefit from £4million to help deliver key environmental projects. The Minister said that thanks to his department’s Environment Fund, 47 projects including nature-rich trails, coastline protection and restoration of peatlands will now go head. He made the announcement during a visit to Mourne […]

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Agriculture Community Constituency Government Lurgan Upper Bann Westminster

World Sheepdog Trials Comes to NI

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has said the hosting of the World Sheepdog Trials at Gill Hall this September will bring huge benefits for local tourism and hospitality providers, with over 50,000 people expected to attend. This week the DUP MP hosted a meeting between some of the organisers and DAERA Minister, Edwin Poots MLA. […]

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Agriculture Community Government Lurgan Upper Bann Westminster

Lockhart Presses DEFRA for Farm Support

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has written to the DEFRA Secretary of State, George Eustice, to press for Government to take immediate and significant steps to help support primary producers at this time of economic pressures on farms. As DUP Spokesperson on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at Westminster, Mrs Lockhart said: “Farmers across Northern […]

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Agriculture Armagh Climate Community Election 2022 Newry South Armagh

Executive Department for Energy and Climate Change Would Help Fight Against Climate Crisis, says Coade

The best way to fight the climate crisis locally is to create an Executive Department for Energy and Climate Change, Alliance Newry and Armagh Assembly candidate Jackie Coade has said. Jackie said the move, one of Alliance’s priorities around the issue of climate change contained in the party’s upcoming Assembly election manifesto, would ensure the […]

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Agriculture Business Community Government Stormont

£1million Rural Business Development Grant Aid Fund Open

A scheme to help rural micro businesses to sustain, develop and recover from the Covid 19 pandemic will open on the 4 May 2022. The Rural Business Development Grant Scheme is funded through the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) Programme, and will be delivered in partnership […]

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Agriculture Armagh Crime

Farmer Sentenced at Armagh Court

Mr Philip Thomas Gordon, (26), Clay Road, Keady, Armagh was sentenced at Armagh Magistrates’ Court today, 4 April 2022 of one charge of failure to comply with a notice to isolate tuberculosis reactors. Mr Gordon was fined £500 plus £15 offender levy. The case arose following a cattle identification inspection carried out by officers from […]