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30 EURO) Saturday, December 31, 2011

Saturday, December 31, 2011

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INSIDE

INSIDE

Young farmers review

Alexandra Deans, Emma

Holden and Kathy Holden

pictured at the Coleraine

and District Ploughing Match. PICTURE: Steven McAuley/Kevin

Wales, Mrs ONeill explained. for the first time, CAP reform will many farmers stakeholders continue will find to be discussed at that these maps need to FARM Minister Michelle to more can be done identify what Ministerial Council North South be corrected. This farmer ONeill to further meetings and is has highlighted I will be working vital and those affectedinput and ultimately to eradicatereduce the closely CAP reform negotiations,ongoing Minister TB in will cattle here. We further Simon Coveney TD. with need to let the department know need well informed growth of the agri-food I will and evidence based what corrections are also be sector, strategies to needed and address and Brucellosis eradication TB to the continuing to listen closely why. By engaging actively both the issue of views of stakeholders plus cattle in this to cattle the publication of the during important 2012 and spread and the wildlife Paper as her key areasRural White achieve together we will work to can protectexercise together we issue. a good outcome on of work for the valuable Single 2012. CAP Farm Payment Outlining the importance reform. we receive annually of In her New Year message the local agri-food and ensure that resources During 2012 sector, the the discussions concentrated remain minister minister makes it will also continue continued: The recent clear that she on farming and rural on Common life, will use every avenue draft Programme Fisheries Policy reform rather than available to where to meet future having to be used target for the for Government achieve the best possible I am looking in disallowance. agri-food sector outcome particular for local agriculture demonstrates how On animal disease more clarity on regionalisationfor in the CAP the Executive the minister now of said: We continue negotiations. recognises the importance fisheries management. to make the sector of While we have a formal significant The set of New minister outlined how the eradicate progress in our fight to The sectorto the wider economy. proposals from the Year provides an Brucellosis and has performed very Commission, I must stress that they for her department opportunity to finally stamp out any we hope well throughout 2011 are precisely remaining and I believe that it can that proposals to work together to and farmers infection. Early eradication continue to and the final here is grow further throughout agreement may look financial corrections reduce the a real prospect. The co-operation that are being significantly 2012. The key is, of course, of farmers has been different. In 2012 I imposed upon us by vital in getting to grasp the will continue the European us to opportunities that lie Commission. to meet with the EU the good place we are ahead. In this Commission, in now. regard the work I shall also wish MEPs, Defra Ministers She continued: As and the department my progress in reducingto see further led Food Strategyof the industry devolved ministers in issues new Board TB Scotland and instrumental in reaching will be eligible areas marked maps with in cattle here. We will incidence continue to plan a shared on them engage for export-driven growth. with industry and wider Continued

BY RICHARD HALLERON

Agri leaders outline priorities for 2012

McAuley Photography Multimedia

PAGE 16

Festive hunts

Ulsters top-four hopes still alive

SEE SPORT

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on page three

Toasting an honours double for golfers

Phillip Tweedie, captain at Royal Portrush Golf Club, raises a glass to cardboard cut-outs of golfers Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke after it was announced that they are to receive an MBE and OBE respectively in the New Year Honours List. The sporting duo are among 55 people from the province honoured by the Queen See pages 6,7 & 8 for a full round-up of local and national recipients

PICTURE: Paul Faith/PA

Fears as police reserve disbands

BY VICTOR GORDON
newsdesk@newsletter.co.uk

Womans death not suspicious

POLICE have confirmed they are not treating the death of a woman in Co Armagh as suspicious. Her body was found yesterday morning on the Madden Road between Tandragee and Gilford following what is believed to have been a freak accident. At this stage it is thought that her van rolled back trapping her against a wall as she prepared to take her dogs for a walk along the Newry Canal towpath. The van was discovered by a local resident who rang the police. A PSNI spokesman said: Police received a report of a body found at the Madden area of Tandragee. A post mortem is due to be carried out. However, the death is not being treated as suspicious.

AS the last police reservists march into history at midnight tonight, concerns have again been raised that the move is premature. The 40 remaining officers are the last of a body once number-

ing more than 3,000 men and women with a wealth of anti-terrorist experience. Unionist politicians have backed the Police Federation in its assessment of the decision that disbandment is inappropriate in light of the ongoing threat from dissident republicans. Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Don-

aldson said his support for their retention was nothing to do with sentimentality. I cannot see how any police service, with the dissident threat always on the surface, can do away with such experience and dedication at a stroke. I hope it will not come back to haunt. Speaking to the News Letter

last night, one of the remaining 40 officers revealed that they had received their P45 redundancy notices through the post on Christmas Eve. Thats what the PSNI think of our long service in such dangerous circumstances. We feel sick about this, he said. See page 13

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