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Minister defends EC grant scheme Minister defends EC grant scheme
(about 3 hours later)
Northern Ireland's agriculture minister has defended a first come, first served method of handing out EC farm grants.Northern Ireland's agriculture minister has defended a first come, first served method of handing out EC farm grants.
A spokesman from the Agriculture Commission in Brussels has said such a method of distributing the money, for farm modernisation, was not allowed.A spokesman from the Agriculture Commission in Brussels has said such a method of distributing the money, for farm modernisation, was not allowed.
Michelle Gildernew said Brussels knew what her department was doing and that they were waiting on confirmation from the EC that the process can continue.Michelle Gildernew said Brussels knew what her department was doing and that they were waiting on confirmation from the EC that the process can continue.
Hundreds of farmers queued overnight to get grants from a £6m funding package.Hundreds of farmers queued overnight to get grants from a £6m funding package.
Michael Mann, a spokesman for the Agriculture Commissioner, said the department's methods were "unacceptable" and broke EC rules. Ulster Farmers Union president Graham Furey said the queues were "regrettable" but hard to avoid.
"The only other alternative allowable by government audit officials was a competitive criteria-based process, which would have been very bureaucratic, slow to deliver and more costly," he said.
Farmers gathered on Monday afternoon ahead of their overnight vigilEarlier, Michael Mann, a spokesman for the Agriculture Commissioner, said the department's methods were "unacceptable" and broke EC rules.
"A first come, first served basis is not an acceptable way of doing this," he said."A first come, first served basis is not an acceptable way of doing this," he said.
Ms Gildernew said that Mr Mann's comments had come as a "surprise".Ms Gildernew said that Mr Mann's comments had come as a "surprise".
"Brussels knew what we were doing, they knew there was a selection criteria - this is not a matter of turning up and saying 'give me five grand'," she said."Brussels knew what we were doing, they knew there was a selection criteria - this is not a matter of turning up and saying 'give me five grand'," she said.
QuestionsQuestions
"But I think there is a misunderstanding with the individual who made the comments at lunchtime and has put everybody into a spin."But I think there is a misunderstanding with the individual who made the comments at lunchtime and has put everybody into a spin.
"As far as I'm concerned our officials have been working throughout this, and I think that we will be able to proceed with this process and I don't think there will be any difficulty.""As far as I'm concerned our officials have been working throughout this, and I think that we will be able to proceed with this process and I don't think there will be any difficulty."
At the Stormont Assembly there was a call for Ms Gildernew to urgently clarify the issue. Some farmers have their eye on robotic floor cleanersAt the Stormont Assembly there was a call for Ms Gildernew to urgently clarify the issue.
The DUP's William McCrea, who is the Stormont Agriculture Committee's chairperson, said if the first come, first served system method broke the rules, and farmers had wasted their time, the minister should resign.The DUP's William McCrea, who is the Stormont Agriculture Committee's chairperson, said if the first come, first served system method broke the rules, and farmers had wasted their time, the minister should resign.
"This is a question which goes right to the very heart of the department and in a personal capacity also the minister's ability to run her department in a proper manner," he said."This is a question which goes right to the very heart of the department and in a personal capacity also the minister's ability to run her department in a proper manner," he said.
Some farmers spent almost two days queuing outside eight government offices across Northern Ireland to apply for the grants.Some farmers spent almost two days queuing outside eight government offices across Northern Ireland to apply for the grants.
The funding package will allow only 1,200 farmers to benefit from the maximum grant award.The funding package will allow only 1,200 farmers to benefit from the maximum grant award.
Some farmers had been in the queue since Sunday ahead of Tuesday's 0900 GMT opening.Some farmers had been in the queue since Sunday ahead of Tuesday's 0900 GMT opening.
The EU rural development programme grants are designed to help improve animal welfare and farm efficiency.The EU rural development programme grants are designed to help improve animal welfare and farm efficiency.
Farmers who receive grant applications will be able to buy from a government-approved list of items such as cow mattresses, creep feeders and computerised livestock identification systems.Farmers who receive grant applications will be able to buy from a government-approved list of items such as cow mattresses, creep feeders and computerised livestock identification systems.
If a farmer gets the maximum grant of £5,000, they must spend £7,000 of their own money on improvements to their farm.If a farmer gets the maximum grant of £5,000, they must spend £7,000 of their own money on improvements to their farm.