Agri-food industry has too much sway

ESMOND Birnie (News, February 20) and Antan O Dala an Ri (Write Back, February 21) are both correct to question the doom-laden misgivings of some sectors of local industry about proper control of immigration now that we have taken the first steps away from the European Union.

Mr Birnie points out controlling immigration is part of the process of transforming the Northern Ireland economy to a high-skill, big-wage, high-productivity situation, while Mr O Dala an Ri warns of the dangers that an economy seriously struggling to maintain essential public services will suffer from a continuing influx of migrant labour. These are warnings to be heeded if our economy is ever to successfully expand.

Most objections to proper control of economic migration come from the agri-food sector, which is a very agitated tail wagging the very large dog of industry.

It is not easy to explain why this small industrial sector holds so much sway with the media, plus the five parties forming the Stormont Executive.

While there are individual examples of good practice in agri-food businesses, it is time that a long look was taken at its role in society.

A sector which relies on importing most of its unskilled workforce contributes to the intolerable pressure our public services.

Is it reasonable for our devolved government to support the agri-food sector when it mainly benefits a few owners and shareholders? Of course not. Yet, every effort is made to accommodate its demands to the extent of moving our national boundary inside our national territory.

Over the next couple of years, Stormont must concentrate most of its resources on rescuing our public health, education and infrastructure services. Public funding of lesser importance must be minimised.

Our agri-food industry must learn to operate on its own resources, regardless of immigration law changes.

ALAN LOVE

NI regional chairman, Ukip