News
1st July 10
7/1/2010
Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott, has criticised the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development for allowing "Red Tape to prevent even the simplest of changes."
Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott, has criticised the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development for allowing "Red Tape to prevent even the simplest of changes." He was speaking after concerned constituents contacted him about wanting to transfer a herd number from a relative who has passed away into their own name. In a statement the Fermanagh and South Tyrone representative said: "It is well known that tradition within the agricultural community was for a farmer to pass on their land to their family. This has happened for hundreds of years and continues today right across Northern Ireland and further afield. It is no surprise then that local farmers, upon the passing of a relative such as their father, want to keep his herd number and Business ID both for practical and emotional reasons. However, DARD has now decided not to allow this practice to continue." "When I contacted them to ask what their reasons were for making the change, they indicated that the main reason was because it was necessary when the Account NI system was been updated to include payments of disease compensation. According to their letter, "It was impossible to enhance Account NI in the time available". However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t possible now. Why should farmers have to lose a herd number or Business ID which they can easily remember, and which they have bought tags for and filled in paperwork with for years? It should be the Department which makes the change that works for the people on the ground, and not the people been dictated to from above as appears to be the case." "This issue is one that is going to continue to rise again and again until the Department show some common sense and make it possible for herd numbers to be passed on as was the case previously. It is a perfect example of the type of bureaucracy that is choking the entire faming industry and which turns the simplest action into an unwieldy Government controlled process. People have had enough."
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