05/05/2010Northern Ireland Leaders DebateThe last Northern Ireland leaders debate to take place before the election
- 04/05/2010Our Contract for Northern Ireland
David Cameron visited Northern Ireland today and reassured voters that Northern Ireland would never be singled out over and above any other part of the UK for public spending cuts.
- 02/05/2010Sir Reg Empey speaking at the Conservatives and Unionists manifesto launch
Sir Reg Empey speaking at the Conservatives and Unionists manifesto launch
- 29/04/2010Manifesto launch - Mike Nesbitt
Mike Nesbitt speaking at the launch of the Conservatives and Unionists manifesto
- 29/04/2010Manifesto launch - Lesley Macaulay
Lesley Macaulay speaking at the Conservatives and Unionists manifesto launch
- 26/04/2010Party Election Broadcast - 2
Second party election broadcast from the Conservatives and Unionists
- 26/04/2010Party Election Broadcast - 1
The first General Election Broadcast from the Conservatives and Unionists
- 11/07/2009Party Election broadcast by the Conservatives and Unionists
Party election broadcast by the Conservatives and Unionists
11/07/2009European manifesto launch - William HagueWilliam Hague speaking at the launch of the Conservatives and Unionists european manifesto - part 1 of 2.
11/07/2009Euro manifesto launchJim Nicholson speaking at the launch of the Conservatives and Unionists European manifesto
- 11/07/2009Sir Reg Empey - Manifesto launch
Sir Reg Empey speaking at the launch of the Conservatives and Unionists European manifesto launch
11/07/2009Cameron Direct - VictimsDavid Cameron answers questions on the status of victims of the troubles at Cameron Direct in Ballymena
11/07/2009Cameron Direct - BusinessDavid Cameron takes questions from the public on business at Cameron Direct in Ballymena
- 11/07/2009Cameron Direct - Education
David Cameron answers questions on education at Cameron Direct in Ballymena
- 11/07/2009Cameron Direct - Health
David Cameron answers questions on Health policy at Cameron Direct in Ballymena
- 11/07/2009Cameron Direct - Politics
David Cameron answers questions on the topic of politics and the current controversy surrounding MP's expenses.
- 11/07/2009Cameron Direct - Normalising politics
David Cameron answers questions on the normalisation of politics in Northern Ireland at Cameron Direct in Ballymena
- 11/07/2009Cameron Direct - Introduction
Cameron Direct - Introduction
- 11/07/2009Cameron Direct - PMS & Economy
David Cameron answers questions on the economy at Cameron Direct in Ballymena
- 11/07/2009Cameron Direct - part 1
Cameron Direct in Ballymena
- 11/07/2009Party Election Broadcast
Conservatives and Unionists party election broadcast
11/07/2009Jim talks on Hearts and Minds (Part 1)Jim Nicholson talks on Hearts and Minds (Part 1)
- 11/07/2009Jim talks on Hearts and Minds (Part 2)
Jim talks on Hearts and Minds (part 2)
11/07/2009Campaign LaunchCampaign Launch 2009
- 29/04/2010BBC NI Online election debate 2010
BBC NI Online election debate 2010
- 11/07/2009Conservative Party Election Broadcast
Party Election Broadcast by the Conservative Party
- 11/07/2009David Cameron MP addresses the UUP AGM
David Cameron MP addresses the UUP AGM
Jim Nicholson MEP and UUP representative
Nicholson Cautiously Welcomes EU Commission Remarks on NI Milk Prices
Conservative and Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has cautiously welcomed the European Commission's remarks on the dairy sector in Northern Ireland after representatives from the European Commission cited Northern Ireland as a region where the dairy industry was showing signs of recovery after the price of milk at the Northern Ireland Auction rose by almost 2.5 pence last week.
Speaking during the meeting Mr Nicholson said,
"While a rise in the price of milk is of course welcome, we must remember that the current market price still falls short of production costs. Moreover, while we realise that intervention is absolutely necessary at the moment, it is certainly not a long term solution.
"The truth is, at EU level, we are not in total control of factors which affect the dairy industry. Events on a global scale have a huge impact, such as consumer trends in China and what is happening in New Zealand. It is for this reason the export refunds should be maintained.
"It is imperative that an investigation into profit making along the supply chain is carried out. Despite the fact that the farm gate price has dropped by almost 40%, the price paid by consumers has remained the same. There are here discrepancies here that need to be urgently addressed.
"I wish to see concrete proposals emerge when EU agriculture ministers meet next week. However, the solution in one member state may not be the same as in another so we must be flexible."
Earlier in the day, Mr Nicholson met with the French minister for Agriculture, Mr Bruno Lemaire, along with other senior members of the Parliament's Agriculture committee. The group discussed the future of agriculture in the context of CAP reform and debated what could be done to support the flailing diary industry.
