Farmers ask Stormont for financial help with fuel costs

The Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) has appealed to the Stormont Executive and the government for financial support amid the ongoing crisis over rising fuel prices.

Fuel costs have soared globally as a result of the US-Israel war with Iran.

Earlier in April the first and deputy first ministers wrote to the prime minister asking for a package of measures to support those under pressure in Northern Ireland.

On Monday, UFU president William Irvine said farmers were facing a "crunch" situation with fuel, energy and fertiliser costs all facing a hike.

"Five European countries and the Republic [of Ireland] have all come up with plans to support agriculture in this situation and there are various options available," he said.

"All that's playing out here will eventually land with the consumer, they will pay the ultimate price and it's trying to avoid that as best we can," he added.

The Republic of Ireland's government announced support after demonstrators blocked major roads and fuel distribution sites in protest.

Mr Irvine met political parties at Stormont earlier, ahead of travelling to Westminster to make his case to government officials.

The Alliance Party, which holds the agriculture and environment brief in the Stormont Executive, has said the communities and economy ministers are responsible for financial support schemes for households facing rising costs.

In April the government announced £17m in home heating oil support for Northern Ireland, but it has not yet begun to be delivered.

Alliance's deputy leader Eoin Tennyson said Westminster also had a responsibility around VAT and fuel duty, as Stormont had limited powers to intervene.

"I don't accept that it's an either/or - we need to see both of those levels of government working together very strongly," he said.

"People have watched on as the DUP and Sinn Féin have bickered with each other about who's responsible for delivering these schemes," said Tennyson.

The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) - the official opposition at Stormont - said the executive could not simply expect the government to manage the crisis, and that the executive had "firepower" available it could use at this time.

Leader Claire Hanna suggested public transport fares should be reduced for those who can find an alternative to using their car, as well as extending rural fuel duty relief to Northern Ireland.

She accused the executive of "deliberately" trying to absolve itself of responsibility by insisting the duty lies on Westminster to solve the problem.

"The same people will not be shy to be standing at photo ops, when money is handed out it'll be their faces on the graphics all social media... they have power and the SDLP is determined to hold them accountable for their failure to use it."

Democratic Unionist Party leader Gavin Robinson said his party's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons planned to bring a proposal to the executive later in the week about distributing the £17m fund.

He said he understood the minister wanted the executive to add more to that funding pot, so that Lyons could "go beyond the restrictive nature of that support".

He said he hoped other parties would support the DUP in that, acknowledging the levers at the executive's disposal.

First Minister Michelle O'Neill said she was not apologetic for "banging on the door of Westminster" for more financial support.

She said all executive parties took the view that London had greater levers to manage the crisis, and the public understood Stormont's constrained financial position.

She said the UK government had the ability to help households and businesses through this, but had made a choice to prioritise a "militarisation agenda over people".

Asked if her party, Sinn Féin, would back Lyons' proposals for allocating £17m of home heating support, she said: "Yes, I will help Gordon Lyons to ensure we get that limited amount of money to those who need it most."

She said she had yet to see his latest proposal, but hoped the executive could get it over the line when it met on Thursday.

Ulster Unionist Party deputy leader Diana Armstrong said MLAs needed to "take a stand" and ensure Westminster made a meaningful intervention to ensure affordable pricing.

"We have resources that could help offset this but we lack the necessary control to fully secure ourselves," she added.

"Many in this chamber will choose to point fingers... but none of that matters at this moment in time. Our economy and people's livelihoods are at stake."