The North South Ministerial Council headquarters in Armagh
An important North South meeting on rural development and agriculture had to be cancelled while DUP members grappled over the party’s leadership.
Writing online, Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill revealed the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) meeting was cancelled as DUP politicians would not attend.
The party ousted its leader Arlene Foster following days of speculation and internal struggle.
In a statement, pushed on Friday (April 30) Foster said she would step down as the party’s leader on May 28, and as First Minister at the end of June.
“The scheduled meeting of ministers North South on rural development and agriculture was cancelled as no DUP Minister would attend,” O’Neill said.
Economy Minister Diane Dodds, Sir Peter Kendall and Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots.
An independent review into the future of the agri-food sector in Northern Ireland is to be led by Sir Peter Kendall, the former president of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU).
The appointment was confirmed by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots and Economy Minister Dianne Dodds on Friday.
In February, the
Irish Farmers Journal revealed that a review into the need for a capital grant scheme for food processing businesses in NI was to be conducted.
Other issues
The new independent strategic review of the NI agri-food sector (ISRAF) will also look other issues facing the sector, such as economic and environmental sustainability, access to migrant labour, market opportunities and the case for regional branding.
NI Further Education students feel undervalued after being excluded from £500 Covid grant All students have faced severe disruption to their studies this year, and all students deserve better than the support this government has provided for them
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Further Education students in Northern Ireland have described feeling undervalued and disappointed after being excluded from receiving the £500 Covid Disruption Grant received by other students in Higher Education.
University Chief tells Derry councillors that 6,000 students at Magee is the upper limit
While the New Decade, New Approach document commits to 10,000 students at Magee the Vice Chancellor says 6,000 is the ambition under the current funding model
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The Vice Chancellor at Ulster University (UU) has told Derry councillors that under the current funding model it will not be possible to deliver the long-promised target of 10,000 students at the Magee campus.
This week UU confirmed that the School of Health Sciences undergraduate programmes will relocate to its Magee campus in Derry from September 2022.
The transfer will bring over 800 undergraduate students to the Magee campus.