Row over claim that DEARA coronavirus aid favours Protestant farmers

£21.4m from the £25m COVID-19 support package is to be directed towards businesses in the beef, dairy, sheep, potato and ornamental horticulture sectors.

Funding will be available to those meeting the criteria irrespective of their business size or location, and to both full and part-time farmers.

But at a Fermanagh and Omagh District Council meeting this week Independent Councillor Bernice Swift, proposed writing back to the Minister Edwin Poots outlining concerns.

This was seconded by Sinn Fein’s Sheamus Greene who told members: “The big beef and milk farmers will get the vast majority. While I am reluctant to say this, those in inlands and lowlands are from the Unionist /Protestant tradition. The vast majority of hill farmers are from the Nationalist/Catholic community.”

He continued: “This is another completely biased attack on hill farmers. It’s absolutely disgraceful and needs to be put out there. If I’m wrong, I apologise, but that’s the way it’s coming across.”

Chair Councillor Chris Smyth felt this was: “Quite a serious thing to say” and enquired if that was to be specifically referenced to the Minister. Councillor Greene replied: “Certainly.”

Ulster Unionist Councillor Bert Wilson said: “I’m a Protestant famer and entitled to be. If I spent my money different and got a bit higher, that was my business and not for anybody to sit in the council chamber and say because I’m a Protestant I’m better off than him.” He continued: “Money is to be allocated on a fair basis. There’s no point in him sitting in the chamber derogating farmers who went out and did something, whereas he obviously didn’t.”

Councillor Greene cut in stating: “That’s an absolute scandal for the Chair to permit.” Both shouted over each other, until the Chair intervened warning: “I’m not having this descend into some sort of fight session.

Councillor Greene said, “I didn’t attack any farmer individually.

“I’ll give Bert my farm and if he can turn it into a milk farm on top of mountains.

Furious, Councillor Wilson said, “A lot of the young Unionist farmers were murdered.”

SDLP Councillor John Coyle said: “We are a farming community. It doesn’t matter who or what you are, we are producing food. It’s very sad those comments came. I’m very disappointed with the Minister. It seems a solo run again.”

Councillor Catherine Kelly, Sinn Fein said: “I know a sectarian dog-whistle when I hear it.”

Chief Executive Alison McCullagh recapped on the proposal to write back to the Minister seeking a definite assurance small farmers are being treated fairly and to clarify what demographics will benefit, as well as highlighting council’s perception the allocation will disproportionately impact on the nationalist community.

The matter passed after a vote which came in at 21 in favour, 13 against and one abstention.