Northern Ireland

Former Undertones front man Feargal Sharkey hits out at former agriculture minister Edwin Poots

Former Undertones front man Feargal Sharkey has severely criticised former Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots
Former Undertones front man Feargal Sharkey has severely criticised former Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots Former Undertones front man Feargal Sharkey has severely criticised former Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots
By John Breslin

Former Undertones front man Feargal Sharkey has heavily criticised former Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots over one of the latter's last acts in the post.

Mr Sharkey, now an activist campaigning for cleaner waters across the UK, criticised the DUP MLA over his capping penalties on farmers repeatedly and intentionally breaching rules on the environment, public health and animal welfare.

Mr Poots used a "statutory rule" to cap the penalties to a maximum of 15 per cent of the basic payment all farmers receive from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

"How to make Lough Neagh the largest cesspit in the United Kingdom? Easy. Ask NI agriculture minister Edwin Poots, the man who changed the rules so that farmers who repeatedly and negligently break pollution laws can have their fines capped at 15% of previous levels," Mr Sharkey wrote on social media.

Mr Poots did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read more:

  • Toxic bacteria in Lough Neagh is worst ever recorded, officials say
  • Edwin Poots to 'step back' from farming to avoid potential conflict of interest
  • Caretaker DUP minister Edwin Poots accused of avoiding democratic scrutiny after 'new legislation' changes rules on farmers' penalties

The South Belfast MLA announced the move in October last year in the last weeks before the Executive stopped operating. DAERA described the move as legislation but it was never voted on by the Assembly.

DUP’s Edwin Poots capped penalties on farmers breaching environmental, public health and animal welfare rules Liam McBurney/PA)
DUP’s Edwin Poots capped penalties on farmers breaching environmental, public health and animal welfare rules Liam McBurney/PA) DUP’s Edwin Poots capped penalties on farmers breaching environmental, public health and animal welfare rules Liam McBurney/PA)

A statutory instrument is subject to a "negative resolution procedure", which could be annulled by the Assembly within a certain period of time, if one was sitting.

Farmers found to have repeatedly, intentionally and negligently breached the requirements on the environment, public health and/or animal welfare previously faced losing up to 100 per cent of their basic payment scheme (BPS) payment.

The minister continued: “Under the existing arrangements, certain repeated negligent breaches can be considered intentional, attracting very high financial penalties. 

"The new regime means that these repeated negligent penalties will be capped at 15 per cent. This is a much fairer approach to our hard-working farmers. This is only possible because we have left the European Union and can now make decisions to suit local needs."