Edwin Poots has taken time off from clubbing defenceless Tories over the head to welcoming Sammy Wilson clubbing our furry friends (albeit furry friends with an infectious health problem) over the head.
Badger decision shows devolution can deliver for farmers
DUP MLA for Lagan Valley and member of the Assembly’s Agriculture Committee Edwin Poots has said that the decision by Environment Minister Sammy Wilson to grant the licence for a cull of up to 1,000 badgers shows how the voice of agriculture has been heeded by devolution. Mr Poots was speaking after newspaper reports showed how some advice given to Mr Wilson had indicated opposition to the plan. He also pointed out that action to tackle the TB problem in badgers would not just benefit farmers but save the public purse up to Ł20 million per year.
"Devolution" being personified as a "listening ear" now.
" The industry has been lobbying for a long time now that Government should not simply attempt to tackle the disease on farms whilst leaving a reservoir of infection remaining amongst wildlife. However, there was traditionally resistance to this within Government, particularly under Direct Rule.
Ah, those "fly-by-night" Brit Direct-Rulers, a pack of softies, the lot of them.
Unfortunately there seems to be a view taken by some people that it is better for Government to spend Ł21million every year treating the symptoms of the Tb problem rather than actually tackling the cause.
I suspect there's a bit more to those disparaged views than Edwin's letting on here, but I'm darned if I'm going to spend any more valuable time on the Friday afternoon before Xmas, examining the pros and cons of knocking off badgers in the name of devolution.
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