Minister discusses conacre issue with Orange Order

Finance Minister, Sammy Wilson, has met with the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland and the Orange Community Network to discuss a range of issues of mutual interest.

The Minister was able to update the delegation, led by Drew Nelson, Grand Secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, on the ongoing work to address the conacre issue. He also took the opportunity to listen to the Order’s concerns on the issue and to hear details of how they see the rural community being affected, including churches and schools.

This issue arises from a Court of Appeal ruling regarding tax relief on land let as conacre. Given that a third of local agricultural land is let in this way, the ruling could have a disproportionate effect on Northern Ireland’s rural community.

Speaking after the meeting, Minister Wilson said: “The farming community in Northern Ireland is acutely aware of the potential impact this ruling could have on rural families. Today’s meeting let me hear from the Orange Order, details of how they believe it will affect the rural community.

“I was able to update the Order on the ongoing work to address this issue. In recent weeks I have engaged with key stakeholders such as the Ulster Farmers’ Union and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

“Following those discussions, I have now written to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Liam Byrne, requesting a meeting with him. I believe it is vital that the Treasury appreciate the potential impact of the conacre ruling on our rural communities and I hope to speak to the Chief Secretary soon to outline my concerns.”

The Minister also listened to the Order’s views on the proposed Dormant Accounts Scheme he announced recently that will re-direct money lying in dormant bank accounts to local communities across Northern Ireland.

The Minister concluded: “Today’s meeting has been a useful engagement with the Order on issues affecting communities across Northern Ireland. I listened to their views with interest and assured the delegation that I would continue to pursue the conacre issue with Treasury and work with groups such as the Ulster Farmers’ Union to try to find a satisfactory resolution to this problem.”

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