The Forum for Political Dialogue met between 1996 and 1998 in Belfast as part of the negotiations that led to the Good Friday Agreement.
The Northern Ireland (Entry to Negotiation, etc) Act 1996 provided for a Forum constituted by delegates elected in elections under the same Act to consider and examine issues relevant to promoting dialogue and understanding within Northern Ireland. The Forum met at the Interpoint Centre, York Street, Belfast from 14 June 1996 to 24 April 1998.
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Education Administration, Fisheries Issues, Elderly People, Paedophile Activities
NORTHERN IRELAND FORUM
FOR
POLITICAL DIALOGUE
_____________________
REVIEW OF FISHERIES ISSUES
IN
NORTHERN IRELAND
by
STANDING COMMITTEE 'D'
(AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES ISSUES)
November 1996
CR4REVIEW OF FISHERIES ISSUES
IN
NORTHERN IRELAND
PAGE
1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. BACKGROUND 3
3. PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED 6
4. REVIEW OF EVIDENCE 18
5. RECOMMENDATIONS 19
APPENDIX A - MEMBERSHIP OF STANDING COMMITTEE D
(AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES ISSUES)
APPENDIX B - MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
STANDING COMMITTEE D
(AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES ISSUES)
APPENDIX C - ORAL AND WRITTEN EVIDENCEREVIEW OF FISHERIES ISSUES
IN
NORTHERN IRELAND
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 At the last plenary meeting of the Forum before the Summer Recess,
held on Friday 26 July 1996, it was agreed, inter alia, that a Committee
be set up with the following terms of reference:
"to examine the problems being faced by farmers and fisheries and
report to the Forum by 31 December 1996"
1.2 During the Summer Recess, advertisements seeking written
submissions from interested groups and individuals were placed in the
Northern Ireland morning and evening newspapers.
1.3 The Forum reconvened after the Summer Recess on Friday
6 September 1996 and on Thursday 12 September, the first meeting of
the Agriculture and Fisheries Committee was held at which
Mr David Campbell was elected Chairman. Details of the membership
of the Committee are set out in Appendix A.
1.4 The written evidence available was reviewed at this meeting and it was
agreed that it was important for the Committee to address Fisheries
issues in Northern Ireland at the earliest opportunity.
11.5 Accordingly, the Committee commenced work on this topic in early
October, taking oral evidence from representatives of the Fisheries
Industry and from the Fisheries Secretary of the Department of
Agriculture for Northern Ireland.
1.6 In view of the imminent meetings of the Fisheries Council in Brussels
in early December, when the quotas for 1997 will be decided, the
Committee undertook to complete its report on this topic and to present
it to the Forum in sufficient time to permit its recommendations to
influence EU consideration.
1.7 The Committee express its gratitude to all those who participated with
it in the formulation of this report. In view of the timescale for the
completion of the report, it has not been possible to include the
corrected form of the Minutes of Evidence at Appendix C.
22. BACKGROUND
2.1 General
2.1.1 The Northern Ireland Fishing Fleet, which is regarded as an inshore
fleet, depends mainly on fishing opportunities in the Irish Sea and North
Channel and is the main United Kingdom fishing interest in the Irish
Sea.
The value of sea fish landings at Northern Ireland ports in 1995 was
£16,239,222, a decrease of £1,770,238 or 10% on the previous years
figures.
2.1.2 Volume of landings in 1995 decreased from 20,880 tonnes to 20,081
tonnes, or 4%, compared with 1994. The main species landed in order
of importance are Nephrops (Prawns), Cod, Hake and Whiting.
2.1.3 In the course of 1995, local vessels also landed 5,993 tonnes of fish
valued at £5,044,789 outside Northern Ireland, making a total quantity
of 25,891 tonnes and a value of £21,085,528 of fish landed by
Northern Ireland Vessels in all countries. This represents 4% of the
total landings of the UK fleet.
2.1.4 The three main fishing ports in Northern Ireland are Ardglass, Kilkeel
and Portavogie with other smaller ports around the coastline of
Counties Down, Antrim and Londonderry.
32.1.5 The Fishing Industry in 1995 provided 1160 jobs in this area of
catching fish and a further 1280 in fish processing. In addition there
are others employed in chandlery, boat repair, and marketing etc.
These jobs are mainly based in Ardglass, Kilkeel, Portavogie and
Annalong where they are an important source of employment in an area
of high unemployment.
2.1.6 In the fish processing sector, there are 44 businesses the majority of
which are small businesses with a turnover of between £500,000 and
£1m. Many of these are traditional family firms, breading scampi,
filleting whitefish or processing prawntails. Northern Ireland accounts
for 40% of the UK scampi market. Some 20% of the prawn catch is
consumed locally as fresh fish, a further 60% is exported to the UK,
with the balance going elsewhere.
2.1.7 In 1995, there were 190 fishing vessels over 10m in length compared
to 256 such vessels in 1992, a decrease of 26%. Of these 190 vessels,
121 over 25 years of age, and only 2 are less than 4 years old.
2.2 Common Fisheries Policy
2.2.1 The Common Fisheries Policy is a European Union policy with
common rules throughout EU member countries covering all aspects of
the fishing industry. Legally, the EU involvement in fisheries is based
in Articles 38 and 39 of the Treaty of Rome, ratified by all EU
Governments. These Articles set out the various aims and methods for
organising agricultural policy, including fisheries. As a result,
Governments transferred to the Community the power to determine
4measures for the fishing industry although it was not until 1983 that the
Common Fisheries Policy was introduced. The Single European Act of
1986 underlined the EU's role, which included fisheries.
2.2.2 It should be noted it is the intention of the EU that the common
fisheries policy should prepare the way for the post-2002 period which
will be characterised in principle by equal access for all Member States'
fishermen to all Community Waters.
2.3 Problems identified by the Northern Ireland Fishing Industry
2.3.1 In the course of oral evidence sessions with representatives of the
Producers Organisations in Northern Ireland, a number of problem
areas were identified which were discussed fully not only with the
Producers, but also with the Department of Agriculture's Fisheries
Secretary. These problem areas are addressed later in this Report.
53. PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED
3.1 In the course of the Committee's examination of Fisheries issues, a
number of problem areas and issues were identified. These are
addressed in the following paragraphs.
The Hague Preference
3.2 In the 1970s, when the common fisheries policy was being devised,
there was an effort made to protect the interests of fishery dependent
communities eg Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and northern
parts of the UK among others. The Hague Preference resulted in 1976.
It was planned that certain areas would be guaranteed a certain share of
quota if total allowable catches and quotas fell to very low levels.
3.3 The agreement reached was that the Republic of Ireland would be
guaranteed twice the catch it was then taking between 1974 and 1976.
Northern Ireland was guaranteed the size of the catch being made
during the same period.
3.4 However, since 1989, catches and quotas have been set at a low level,
and both the UK and the Republic of Ireland have invoked the Hague
Preference. Up to 1993, in general the United Kingdom was a net
gainer, while Northern Ireland, in particular was a net loser from the
process. The Republic of Ireland has always been a net gainer and this
has caused great frustration among Northern Ireland fishermen.
63.5 In the course of his oral evidence to the Committee, Mr James of the
Northern Ireland Fish Producers Organisation explained that the Hague
Preference is a permanent feature of the common fisheries policy and
that it deprives Member States of the EU of fish which are rightfully
theirs, allowing the Republic of Ireland, alone in the European Union to
expand its fishing fleet whilst every other fleet has been cut. The
reason the Republic of Ireland was given the benefit of the Hague
Preference was to enable it to develop its fleet, the development plan
for this project to run until 1979. Some 17 years after the expiration of
this deadline, the Irish Fleet still benefits from the Hague Preference.
The Republic of Ireland Fleet has been permitted to grow, whilst the
fleets of all other Member States have been reduced. Mr James
explained that his organisation had attempted to obtain a copy of the
Hague Preference from the EU, but that, as it is a Secret document, the
request had been refused.
3.6 Mr James pointed out that the Northern Ireland Fish Producers
Organisation had therefore brought a legal challenge against the Hague
Preference, the High Court of Northern Ireland having referred the
issue to the European Court of Justice for final determination.
3.7 Mr Lavery, the Fisheries Secretary of the Department of Agriculture
pointed out that the Hague Preference is of benefit to the United
Kingdom as a whole. He explained that there is no flexibility in the
Hague Preference, and that the United Kingdom Government
recognises that it works very much to the disadvantage of Northern
Ireland. Each December, he said, international quota savings are used
7to attempt to offset this disadvantage, these swaps taking place usually
with the Republic of Ireland.
The Lasen Report
3.8 Quotas were set in 1983 by the EU and were the first attempt to
manage fisheries. To reinforce quotas, a mechanism was introduced to
limit the size of the fishing fleets, and this was called a "multi-annual
guidance programme" or MAGP. Several MAGPs have been
introduced over the years. MAGP 3 which will end on 31 December
1996, contained a number of objectives, among which was to reduce
the UK fleet by 20%, while the Republic of Ireland fleet was permitted
to grow by 2%. The Northern Ireland fleet reduction through MAGP
3, as outlined by Mr James of the Northern Ireland Fish Producers
Organisation, is to date, 36% by vessel number, 40% by power and
43% by tonnage. Mr James stressed that the Northern Ireland fleet has
shrunk to facilitate the Republic of Ireland fleet which has remained
static.
3.9 In May 1996 at the instigation of the EU, a group of scientists under
the chairmanship of the Danish Dr Lasen published a report on the level
of European fish stocks and the consequent fleet size. There was no
Northern Ireland representation on this scientific committee, nor did
there appear to be anyone on the committee with an in-depth
knowledge of the Irish Sea fisheries. This Committee has concluded
that a 40% cut in the Irish Sea fleet was needed. The Lasen Report's
justification for such a swingeing cut was the need for a 40% cut in
nephrops fishing to sustain stocks in the Irish Sea. Mr James of the
8Northern Ireland Fish Producers Organisation, Mr McCulla of the
Anglo-North Irish Fish Producers Organisation, and the Fisheries
Secretary of the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland all
share the same view, viz that the conclusions contained in the Lasen
Report are fatally flawed. The use of prawns as an indicator stock is
highly questionable because of the difficulty in age identification, and
because Irish Sea nephrops are a naturally smaller form of the species.
Secondly, in the words of the Fisheries Secretary of the Department of
Agriculture, Mr Lavery
"there is no indication that I have been able to come up with,
from our own scientists, or any scientist at United Kingdom level,
that stocks in the Irish Sea require this degree of reduction, either
in mortality or in the fleet that is chasing the stocks."
3.10 Talks are now in place regarding MAGP 4 and the EU have identified a
further cut of 40% in the Irish Sea, a cut which in the view of the
Northern Ireland Fish Producers Organisation would lead to the
collapse of the fishing industry in Northern Ireland.
3.11 It is noteworthy that recently in Luxembourg, the EU presidency drew
the conclusion that all Member States regarded the Lasen proposals for
reduction much too large and unrealistic given the effects of the fleet
cuts and the economic and social problems which would occur as a
result.
Technical Conservation Measures
93.12 In his evidence to the Committee on this topic, the Fisheries Secretary
of the Department of Agriculture explained that in June of 1996 the EU
announced proposals covering the number of nets which could be
carried by a fishing boat, the mesh sizes of the nets, and the minimum
landing size of the fish caught. Mr Lavery stressed that the problem
with these proposals is that they were not designed for the Irish Sea.
Mr Lavery said "if account is not taken of our fisheries, they will cease
to be viable - it is as simple as that. So we are arguing for derogations
for changes." In this connection it is worthy of note that NI fishermen
are concerned that their voice is not being properly heard in Brussels.
Indeed Mr McCulla of the Anglo-North Irish Fish Producers
Organisation told the Committee of a MAFF scientist going to Brussels
to negotiate for the UK, including of course Northern Ireland, who was
heard to say that he viewed "the Irish Sea as a backwater"!
3.13 The Irish Sea prawn is a small prawn which does not grow as large as
those elsewhere. These Irish Sea prawns are being cropped
sustainably in the eyes of DANI scientists. The proposed increase in
minimum landing size for prawns could lead to a loss of 60% - at
present the prawn catch amounts to £9m per annum, for which
Northern Ireland has the largest processing facility in the world.
Should the proposed minimum landing size be introduced, there will be
no prawn tails landed in Northern Ireland. It follows that there will be
no scampi, and similarly no further need for the processing and
production factories in County Down, putting approximately 1,300
people (over one-half of the fishing industry in the area) out of work, in
an area of high unemployment. In this connection, the Committee
noted that the UK Government is pressing for a ruling which would
10permit Northern Ireland fishermen to take small prawns of
approximately 70mm from the Irish Sea.
3.14 With regard to mesh sizes, while no change in the prawn mesh size is
proposed, whitefish may be increased from 80mm to 120mm. As the
Irish Sea is a mixed fishery with whiting, hake and a variety of other
fish involved, such an increase would make catches so small as to be
insignificant.
Flagship Technology (Quota Hoppers)
3.15 The problem of "flagships" was identified in the course of the oral
evidence session with Mr James of the Northern Ireland Fish
Producers Organisation. Mr James explained that where a company is
registered in the UK, the company, which may be Dutch or Spanish
etc, owns the boat. Mr James pointed out that the flagship problem
has reached the stage where 20% of the UK fleet are flagships, ie boats
which are in foreign ownership, which are catching up to 40% of the
most significant UK quotas - eg hake, sole and plaice. Mr James
stressed that the UK quota is supposed to be a national asset - "it is no
longer a national asset where flagships can prosecute it."
Herring
3.16 Attention was drawn to the super abundance of herring in the Irish Sea,
and to the fact that Northern Ireland fishermen are not permitted freely
to catch them because of archaic closed areas and closed seasons
11which were introduced in the 1970s when the herring fisheries were in
crisis. It was explained that there is scientific evidence that the herring
fisheries in the Irish Sea have recovered to the point where the fish are
dying of old age and the stock is therefore in danger of becoming
unhealthy.
Sea Fish Industry Authority
3.17 The Sea Fish Industry Authority is a body set up by Government to
foster the fishing industry and to look after marketing issues. In the
past, the Authority had an office in Bangor, Co Down, but because of
contraction it was closed. The Authority is now based in Edinburgh.
Mr James of the Northern Ireland Fish Producers Association pointed
out that many of the statistics produced by the Authority ignore
Northern Ireland.
3.18 It is understood that a new grant and loan scheme for fishing vessels
has been introduced by the Government and that this scheme will be
administered by the Sea Fish Industry Authority. In addition, the
Authority is understood to be responsible for additional work involving
the surveying of boats.
Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority
3.19 The Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority was formed on
16 April 1973, when control of the harbours at Ardglass, Kilkeel and
Portavogie passed to the Authority. The Authority consists of a
Chairman and between 4 and 8 members, appointments being made by
12the Agriculture Minister who normally seeks nominations from the
representative organisations of the industry.
3.20 The main objectives of the Authority are:
- to improve, manage and maintain the harbours;
- to operate such facilities as may be provided at the harbours;
- to dredge and maintain the entrances and channels to the harbours;
- with required consent, to construct, alter or extend any tidal
works;
- to lease or dispose of land, subject to the approval of DANI;
- to make bye-laws to control the day-to-day running of the
harbours and their functions;
- to operate an approved 'Code of Procedure' within the Authority.
3.21 From the inception of the Authority 23 years ago, Harbour Dues which
are higher than ROI and among the top three in the UK have remained
at £50 per vessel per annum, Landing Dues stand at 2% on the gross
value of the catch and Buyers' Dues at ½% on purchases. In the
financial year ended 31 March 1996, the operating income of the
Authority was £647,822 made up of Landing/Market Dues of
£426,106, Harbour Dues of £12,033, Ice Sales of £160,455, Slipways
of £47,845 and other sundries of £1,383.
3.22 Since 1980, the Authority has undertaken a number of capital work
projects at the three harbours at a total cost of £13.8m of which the
13Authority has contributed £2.2m of its own funds. The last 5 projects,
undertaken at a cost of £1.5m were required as a result of EU
directives. The result of this capital investment is that the Authority
has had to borrow from the Banks and is now paying interest of
£26,000 per year. As a result, the Board of the Authority is drawing up
a plan for capital and minor works over the coming 4-year period - a
plan which if approved will be forwarded to DANI.
3.23 Agreed capital projects are at present financed by DANI grant of 80%,
the Authority meeting the remaining 20% from income derived from
Landing Dues, ice sales and rent. The Authority believes that it will be
necessary, because of the current state of its finances, to increase
Landing and Buyers' Dues in all three ports. The Producers
Organisations have already indicated that the proposed increase would
be unacceptable because they believe that they do not have the
necessary and proper facilities in the harbours.
3.24 In the course of questioning, the representatives of the Authority and
the Fisheries Secretary of the Department were questioned regarding
the possibility of closing one of the three fishing fleet harbours in order
to balance the Authority's books. In response it was indicated that it
was the Authority's policy to retain employment and vessels at all three
ports. a view shared by DANI.
3.25 Members of the Committee raised specific problems in each of the
three ports - eg harbour access at Kilkeel, the outer storm-damaged
breakwater at Ardglass, the slipway and ice-making facilities at
14Portavogie. It was made clear by the Authority that no capital funds
are presently available to tackle these jobs.
Diversification
3.26 It was noted in the course of the evidence sessions that resources are
available under the Sub-Programme for Agriculture Fisheries and Rural
Development, part of the Structural Funds, for diversification for
fishing boats etc. However it became clear that as the Irish Sea is a
confined area, and as the fleet is of an inshore nature, there is very little
room for diversification.
Recruitment
3.27 Fishing is not an attractive industry for young people, particularly those
leaving school. Traditionally, son has followed father into the industry
- a trend that is no longer true - and unless new blood comes into the
industry it will in time die.
3.28 The fishing industry is now regulated totally by licences, the value of
which have increased to the point where it is impossible for a young
person on the deck of a boat to aspire to ownership. In the course of
questioning, Mr McCulla of Anglo-North Irish Fish Producers
Organisation agreed that a grant aid scheme to assist young men into
15the industry should be helpful - indeed he indicated that such a scheme
had been suggested to the European Community task force - without
any response.
Health and Safety
3.29 The Committee was surprised to learn that although grant aid is
available to assist in meeting the cost of upgrading conditions to meet
health and safety standards, the level of aid can change and applicants
are not guaranteed access to the scheme because of limited resources
which are available only to 1999.
3.30 Those men who are employed in the fishing industry are without doubt
engaged in a most dangerous profession. It is the view of the
Committee that it is therefore essential that resources are freely
available to ensure that required health and safety standards are
provided and maintained.
Regionalisation
3.31 The Fisheries Secretary of the Department of Agriculture was asked if
the Department had considered the possible application of a regional
policy with regard to the fishing industry. He explained that the United
Kingdom has promoted at Brussels the idea of regional committees
16which would enable fishermen to be consulted more directly on stocks
of fish. He stressed that giving such a committee a formal power to
set quotas and total allowable catches would require a major re-write of
the common fishery policy. However the idea is included in a recent
review of the common fisheries policy which was independently
conducted within the UK.
Job Seekers Allowance
3.32 The new Job Seekers Allowance (the replacement for Unemployment
Benefit) was identified by Mr James of the Northern Ireland Fish
Producers Organisation as having the potential to provide major
difficulties for fishermen. He pointed to the administrative
requirements of applications for the allowance and stressed that in the
event of bad weather, the whole fishing fleet would be seeking
assistance, and that in these circumstances, the Government
administration of the new Scheme would be unable to cope. The
outcome of this situation - delay in payments - would, it was explained,
hit fishermen and their families very hard.
174. REVIEW OF EVIDENCE
4.1 The Committee, having reviewed all the evidence placed before it,
wishes to express its respect for all those involved in the fishing
industry. The Committee particularly admires the courage and fortitude
of the fishermen in particular who regularly put to sea, sometimes in
the most hazardous conditions. Fishermen are members of one of the
most dangerous of professions and are due the esteem of all sectors of
the community.
4.2 The Committee in addressing the various problems highlighted in the
course of its examination of fisheries issues, was conscious of the need
to ensure, inter alia, the retention in Northern Ireland of a thriving,
traditional fishing industry, the provision of safe harbours and the
encouragement of new blood into the industry. The recommendations
contained in the Report are geared to the improvement in all respects of
the conditions under which the Northern Ireland industry functions.
185. RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 The Committee recognises the unfairness of the Hague Preference with
regard to the Northern Ireland fishing industry and supports the efforts
of the Northern Ireland Fish Producers Organisation in its legal
challenge. In this connection, the Committee recommends that the EU
should fundamentally re-examine the working of the Hague Preference
with a view, inter alia, to re-setting the allocation keys, and that the UK
Government should examine the workings across the different regions
of the UK.
5.2 The Committee calls for the introduction of realistic technical
conservation measures which are tailored to the particular needs and
requirements of the Irish Sea and recommends that DANI and the UK
Government should re-double their efforts with the EU in pursuit of a
solution which recognises the unique nature of the Irish Sea fishery.
5.3 The Committee shares the views of the NI Fishing Industry and the
Department of Agriculture concerning the unrealistic scientific
conclusions of the Lasen Report and recommends that the UK
Government and the EU give serious consideration to the levels of cuts
required with the object of reaching a conclusion which is based not on
flawed reasoning, but on the level of fishing which is sustainable.
5.4 The Committee recommends that no further cuts should be made to the
Irish Sea fisheries as such action will undermine the viability of the
fishing industry in Northern Ireland.
195.5 The Committee recommends that regionalisation of the Common
Fisheries Policy should be introduced, taking into account the specific
needs and differences between Member States. The Committee further
recommends that Northern Ireland should be fully represented on
scientific committees where Northern Ireland regional waters are under
consideration.
5.6 The Committee recognises that under the Treaty of Rome, freedom of
establishment permits foreign ownership of boats, however the
Committee considers that the abuse of the UK quota by flagships is of
such magnitude as to require action to be taken. The Committee calls
on the United Kingdom Government and the European Union to take
steps to end the abuse of quotas by 'flagships'. Within the context of a
Common Fisheries Policy, the Committee recommends that preference
be given to coastal fishing communities in areas of deprivation, similar
to the operation of the Common Agriculture Policy.
5.7 The Committee calls upon the UK Government and the Manx
authorities to review the measures introduced in the 1970s to limit
fishing for herring in the Irish Sea when the herring fisheries were in
crisis, and to introduce new legislation which will permit limited fishing
(eg 2,000 tonnes per year in the Douglas Bank area east of the Isle of
Man) which would also be participant limited - the only people licensed
to catch Irish Sea herring being Northern Ireland fishermen who
traditionally fish this area.
5.8 The Committee shares the view of the Northern Ireland Fish Producers
Organisation that a Northern Ireland office of the Sea Fish Industry
20Authority should be established and recommends that the Northern
Ireland Agriculture Minister should intercede to ensure that the
Authority recognises the standing of the NI Fisheries Industry by
opening a Northern Ireland office as a matter of urgency.
5.9 While the Committee acknowledges that within the past 5 years
£560,000 has been spent on the refurbishment of fishmarkets at
Ardglass, Kilkeel and Portavogie and £838,000 on ice plants at Ardglass
and Kilkeel, it is concerned that important work which could affect the
lives of fishermen remains to be done, with little immediate prospect of
resources becoming available. The Committee therefore recommends
that the Department of Agriculture, the Fishery Harbour Authority and
the Industry should as a matter of urgency meet and conclude an
agreed methodology to ensure that resources are put in place urgently
to meet identified shortcomings including health and safety and the
viability of the industry.
5.10 The Committee recommends that the structures of the Fishery Harbour
Authority should be examined by the DANI Minister to provide for
accountability through the representation on the Authority of more
fishermen and elected local representatives.
5.11 The Committee recommends that the Authority should take every
possible step to ensure the implementation of all necessary health and
safety measures at the Harbours.
215.12 The Committee recommends that there should be regionalisation of the
Common Fisheries Policy to take into account the specific needs and
differences of different areas.
5.13 The Committee views with concern the declining number of young
people becoming fishermen, notes the rising cost of licences (due to
decommissioning) which has prevented fishermen from buying boats,
and in the light of this, recommends that the Government should
encourage young people to stay in the industry by making a Start-Up
Grant Scheme available to them.
22MB60.WM
23APPENDIX A
MEMBERSHIP OF
STANDING COMMITTEE D
(AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES ISSUES)
24MEMBERSHIP OF STANDING COMMITTEE D
(AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES ISSUES)
Ulster Unionist Party - Mr D Campbell - Chairman
Mr J Speers
Mr J Gaston
Mr J Junkin
Democratic Unionist Party - Mr D Stewart - Vice-Chairman
Mr E Poots
Mr J Shannon
Mr W Clyde
Alliance Party - Mr K McCarthy
*Mr D Ford
UK Unionist Party - *Mr E Fowler
Ulster Democratic Party - Mr J White
Progressive Unionist Party - Mr D Ervine
NI Women's Coalition - *Ms R Keenan
Labour Party - *Mr J Masson
*Attend the Committee on behalf of their Party under
Rule 14(4)(a) of the Forum Rules of Procedure
25