Declan McAleer
West Tyrone · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“The regulations are designed to strengthen and complement the existing framework governing the welfare of animals at the time of killing. They build upon EU regulation 1099/2009 and the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing Regulations 2014, ensuring that the North maintains high standards of animal welfare.”
“Inspectors are granted clear powers to enforce the regulations, including the ability to enter premises, carry out inspections and, where necessary, seize evidence to ensure compliance. Enforcement notices may also be issued where breaches are identified, with appropriate mechanisms in place for appeal.”
“<BR /> <BR />From a resource point of view, which is another key debate, and looking at the practicalities of the Bill, we must not create a situation in which councils will be expected to take on significant new responsibilities, incur substantial costs and manage increased workloads without the necessary resources.”
“I will follow on from the key points made by my colleague Aoife Finnegan MLA. First, I record our appreciation of the Committee staff, including Janice and Glenda, for the work that they did. I also thank the Bill Office for its assistance during our scrutiny of the Bill.”
“We support the ambition of the Bill — we made that clear at First Stage and at Committee Stage, and we have made it clear today — to give councils stronger powers to intervene. However, the stronger powers must be accompanied by a framework that is properly resourced, legally robust and workable.”
“There are three council areas in our West Tyrone constituency, for instance. <BR /> <BR />We heard a lot from NILGA and received correspondence from SOLACE about the costs and the fear that costs could not be recovered. If legal challenges were brought to councils about notices that were made, it would be costly to the ratepayer.”
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“I acknowledge the work of the coaches, the teachers and the parents and that of the Armagh county board for having the pitch and facilities in such great condition for yesterday's game. I also commend Ulster Schools GAA for organising this great competition. It caters for 130 schools and involves over 1,800 games in an academic year. It means a lot to the communities and to the feeder clubs. The buzz in the Athletic Grounds in Armagh yesterday was palpable. I also commend Abbey Vocational School on its victory in the McLarnon Cup against Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock, yesterday. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, I congratulate Christian Brothers Grammar School, Omagh, and wish it all the very best as it sets out to win back-to-back Hogan Cups.”
“Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle. I commend you on taking up your position. <BR /> <BR />First, I congratulate the Christian Brothers Grammar School, Omagh, on its stunning back-to-back victory in the MacRory Cup yesterday against St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon. I commiserate with St Patrick's on the day, but it was a great game of football in an all-Tyrone encounter. This is a significant year for the MacRory Cup as it is its centenary, the 100th year of the MacRory Cup. It is also a significant milestone for Christian Brothers Grammar School, Omagh, because it is 50 years since the school first won the MacRory Cup, in 1974. <BR /> <BR />I congratulate the players. It takes a lot of commitment, dedication and hard work to reach that level and to balance all the other challenges of their schoolwork and other things in their lives.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. The statement made several references to biodiversity: what actions does the Department propose to reverse biodiversity loss?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. <BR /> <BR />TB is a serious issue. It can impact on our international trade. We recently heard that approximately 1,000 cattle are culled per month as a consequence of TB, which is a very serious disease. Minister, you referred to biosecurity measures to prevent TB. Is the Department minded to support farmers in order to enhance on-site biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of TB? That is certainly something that the AERA Committee has recommended.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement this morning on the future agricultural policy proposals. The Minister referred to his decision to increase the minimum claim size from 3 hectares to 5 hectares. Does he have any assessment of how many businesses that will impact, in that they currently receive the single farm payment but will not subsequently be able to apply for the new resilience payment?”
“Our education facilities play a crucial role in that regard, and the Committee welcomes the future introduction of the scheme at CAFRE and in schools and colleges throughout the North.”
“On 17 February, the Department informed the Committee that safeguarding staff at CAFRE would be supported through additional online learning via the Operation Encompass website and that that would be supplemented by further guidance and training by officials as required. The Committee was provided with further assurances that DAERA staff will engage with colleagues in the Justice, Education and Economy Departments to develop protocols to cover the provision of information between CAFRE and the PSNI in relevant circumstances. <BR /> <BR />The Committee supports the regulations being made today and considers it vital that agencies work closely together to provide holistic support and safeguarding for children and young people suffering from domestic abuse.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on the regulations put forward by the Minister of Justice. <BR /> <BR />In January, the Committee was informed of the introduction of the regulations by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and of the overarching policy intent to improve support for children and young people experiencing domestic abuse. The Committee considered the proposal at its meeting on 27 January and sought further clarification of the implications for the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise regarding additional training for staff and the development of protocols with the PSNI.”
“I welcome the inclusion of Dean Maguirc College in Carrickmore in the Minister's list of major capital works. I declare an interest as a parent and as a former pupil, many years ago. <BR /> <BR />The Minister will be aware from her visit to Dean Maguirc in December that the college badly needs substantial investment and upgraded facilities to cater for the ever-surging demand for places. The burning questions are these: is there any indication of how much of the £794 million might be earmarked for the school, and is there any indicative timing for that?”
“I thank the Member for taking an intervention. Does the Member accept, or has he heard, the comments of the president of the Ulster Farmers' Union, the largest farming organisation in the North, who did not support amendment No 17? Rather, the UFU is of the view that farming wants to be part of the solution here. Does he accept that? That comes from the largest farming organisation in the North, and surely it has a more authoritative voice than the Member.”
“I also thank the DAERA officials, because they were on hand to clear up any outstanding issues or points of clarity that we had. I am thankful to them from a party point of view. We wanted to get this right, and we put forward those amendments at both Consideration Stage and Further Consideration Stage. It has been a long process. We want to get it right, because the legislation will set the trajectory for the next 30 years and beyond. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, I thank everyone who has been part of this. I commend the Bill.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will add a couple of points in my capacity as Sinn Féin's agriculture and rural affairs spokesperson. We have engaged extensively over the past year on the topic. That includes the 52 evidence-gathering sessions that the Committee took part in. We met hundreds of schoolchildren and many stakeholders from local government and small businesses. We engaged and listened attentively over the past eight or nine months. Sinn Féin proposed a total of 39 amendments to the Bill, including amendments on public consultation, rural equality and small business proofing, the agriculture transition fund, carbon leakage, the social and economic role and importance of farming, and methane. Putting forward 39 amendments on behalf of the party took a huge amount of work by fellow MLAs our policy officers and the Bill Office.”
“Before closing, I take the opportunity to thank the many hundreds of people who engaged with the Committee's call for evidence on climate change legislation over the past year and the dozens of stakeholder organisations that provided evidence to the Committee orally and in writing. Many of those stakeholders did that for both Bills over the past eight or nine months. Getting to this stage has required much effort, engagement and energy from the Committee and from Members of the House. That is testament to the fundamental importance of the Bill progressing today. It will set a framework for how we can ensure that, as a society, we can contribute to the global effort to mitigate climate harm and sets a fair and just pathway for the transition to a low-carbon economy.”
“The amendment to the Bill that requires DAERA to bring forward regulations outlining the specifics of the duty on public-sector bodies is a positive addition that will ensure that they all are appropriately consulted on what can be reasonably expected of them in delivering on climate change reporting measures.”
“Furthermore, following the overwhelming feedback to our calls for evidence, the provision that obligates Departments to consider harmonising policies and approaches with those in place elsewhere on these islands is very much welcome and will ensure that our local approach maintains parity with that of our neighbours. <BR /> <BR />The Committee also welcomes the amendments made at its suggestion to ensure that the targets for emissions percentages and years can only ever be revised in the future to make them more ambitious. That will serve to alleviate any stakeholder concerns about the commitment to strong climate action and puts in place a legal safeguard against any potential move to weaken targets in the future.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee has had the unique privilege of evaluating two climate change Bills simultaneously in the past year. Although that has proved challenging, there is no doubt that the extensive time and effort that the Committee has taken to listen to stakeholders and experts has been crucial in shaping some of the amendments that have been incorporated into the Bill. In particular, the Committee welcomes the inclusion of a just transition principle, which will place an onus on Departments to ensure that their plans for reducing emissions support sustainable job growth; take account of key sectors of the economy and small businesses; and safeguard the most vulnerable in our society from the adverse impacts of change.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak today on behalf of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs at Final Stage of the Climate Change (No. 2) Bill. It would be remiss of me not to comment on what is a significant step forward for our local Assembly. We have collectively brought forward and developed climate change law and, in doing so, have addressed the long-standing legislative gap between us and our neighbours. Although total agreement on emissions targets and oversight structures was always unlikely, it is fair to say that, over the past number of weeks, the key issues have been debated well, and, at times, vociferously, and there can be no doubt about Members' commitment and passion to deliver climate change law that is robust, deliverable and fair to key sectors of our economy.”
“I thank everyone, particularly the women, who took the time to complete the survey and participate in our stakeholder event, as well as the organisations that provided their insight and advice to the Committee, including the Ulster Farmers' Union and the NI Rural Women's Network. The Committee recognises that delivering change and equality of opportunity for women in our agriculture sector will take many years, and it hopes that the review will be a positive first step on that journey.”
“By embracing, supporting and encouraging women to have greater prominence and leadership in the industry, our agricultural sphere will be better placed to adapt, diversify and modernise in response to strategic challenges.”
“While it will take years of persistent action to deliver full equality of opportunity, the Committee's recommendations aim to set a train in motion towards greater inclusivity for women in the sector and to address some of the challenges. <BR /> <BR />In the context of the impending changes from climate change legislation, a new system of farm payments and trade dynamics arising from Brexit, our local agriculture sector cannot afford to keep doing things in the same way.”
“I thank all Members for their contributions on this International Women's Day. We were delighted to be able to table the motion in the Chamber on this particular day. Indeed, we are launching the report at 1.30 pm in the Long Gallery. Everyone is invited to the Long Gallery just before 1.30 pm, and I will elaborate on the report in a bit more detail. <BR /> <BR />The review has highlighted the central role that women play in our agriculture sector, and it has shone a light on the issues and barriers that they face on a daily basis. Many of those barriers and issues are embedded in tradition and cultural practice, and we heard that from Member after Member today.”
“<BR /> <BR />Ninety eight per cent of the respondents to our survey regularly contribute to the farm business, and the vast majority give at least 20 hours of their week to farm work. A significant proportion of local women routinely do hands-on work with livestock and crops, as well as completing paperwork, filing and documentation. In many cases, that is on top of running a household and holding down another job. Forty one per cent of the women who completed our survey who have jobs off the farm have used income from that job to help to meet farm running costs, and 13% do so regularly. <BR /> <BR />I will conclude and pick up on Members' comments during the wind on the debate.”
“The responses included messages about giving greater prominence to women leaders in the sector to showcase their success; educating farm families about the need for wider thinking about inheritance, and to consider all siblings as potential successors; developing bespoke training opportunities for women in the sector and facilitating women-only networks; and ensuring that leaders in the industry set an example of expected behaviours in gender equality and acceptance. <BR /> <BR />The survey and stakeholder event also demonstrated the vital role that women play on family farms, and the extent and diversity of the activities that women carry out every day. Women truly are, in many cases, the backbone of the family farm.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee heard about the range of challenges that women experience, including attitudes and behaviour of non-acceptance; a lack of support from friends and family to pursue agriculture as a career path; difficulties in accessing finance; and a reluctance to participate in available training opportunities, as those are overwhelmingly dominated by men. We asked women for their views on how those barriers could be addressed.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee's report outlines our findings. It is clear that women are significantly under-represented in the sector at all levels, and particularly in farm ownership and participation in training groups and on organisational boards. Just 5% of registered principal farmers are women. Men comprise 96% of the membership of business development groups. Local women experience a range of challenges, many of which are cultural, including social stigma, and practical issues such as a lack of access to land, farm ownership and capital. The overwhelming majority of respondents to our survey feel that more needs to be done to support women in the sector.”
“The Irish Government have pledged to increase capital financial support for women as part of its CAP proposals. <BR /> <BR />It was in that context that the Committee decided to launch its review, to explore the local issues and consider what could be done here to enhance and support women in agriculture. In order to inform the Committee's findings, it made a survey available online for six weeks, which received 178 responses from women who live or work in the agriculture sector. We also facilitated an event with stakeholders to discuss the issues at first hand and analyse data on the composition of the local farming workforce. We sought information from the Department about the policies that it has in place to support women in the sector, benchmarked against approaches in other jurisdictions.”
“That perfectly encapsulates the cultural, practical and social barriers that women who live and work in our agriculture sector face and the need to shine a light on those issues. <BR /> <BR />For centuries, farming has predominantly been considered to be a man's job, and many of the practices in the sector have perpetuated that, including the tradition of passing farm ownership to a son or another male relative in order to keep the farm in the family name. However, that is starting to change. Some countries have highlighted the inequalities for women in agriculture and introduced policies to address them. For example, the Scottish Government have adopted a range of measures, following the recommendations of the Women in Agriculture Taskforce, to promote the role of women through specific training packages and subsidy grants.”
“I am delighted to speak today on behalf of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, pending the publication of our report on the challenges facing women in the agriculture sector and our recommendations for future policy in that sphere. <BR /> <BR />I start by reflecting on the experience of a local woman who took part in our survey. She stated:”
“I was at the end of my speech, and I welcome the Member's intervention. The Member will be aware that that is a different conversation. Had he been following the debate on climate change, he would be aware that our party tabled 39 amendments to the Climate Change (No. 2) Bill to make it fair and effective for all sectors. They include amendments on methane at Consideration Stage and Further Consideration Stage, which have been very much welcomed by the farming community. That is the debate for tomorrow. OK?”
“I have just finished, but I will give way.”
“The Department should be able to forward plan and, rather than handing back that £7·5 million, re-profile it to make sure that it is invested in rural communities. <BR /> <BR />It is deeply regrettable that we have not been in a position to have a three-year Budget to give some degree of certainty. Again, legislation for that cannot be brought forward because of the DUP shenanigans that have created huge uncertainties for the Department and, indeed, for our rural communities.”
“As my colleague Caoimhe Archibald said yesterday, if the UK Community Renewal Fund is anything to go by, that will not inspire confidence, because the British Government have gone over the head of the Executive in administering that funding through Westminster. It provides something like £11 million, which is a vast reduction on the usual £65 million a year that we would have had if we had remained in the EU. <BR /> <BR />The Department has declared a surplus — a reduced capital requirement — of £7·5 million this year. That is regrettable, given the pressures on our rural communities as a consequence of the lost EU funding and on our farmers, who face increased costs for fertiliser and other inputs. There is also a red diesel crisis. That will be made worse by the desperate situation in Ukraine.”
“That will have a serious impact on our ability to deliver basic services in rural communities. <BR /> <BR />At the time of Brexit, we were told that the lost EU funding would be replaced through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. We have not seen that yet. We have not seen the colour of the British Government's money in relation to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.”
“Again, anyone who represents rural communities will know that, in most villages in the country, where you see a community hall, where a village and rural project has taken place, where there is a localised connectivity project and where there are small businesses, in most cases, since we were part of the EU, those were funded out of the EU rural development programme. Again, as a consequence of Brexit and as a consequence of the DUP forcing the British Government into the hardest possible Brexit, we are now out of the EU rural development programme. In the last funding round between 2014 and 2020, we had a rural development budget of £623 million. We now do not have that, and, as I said yesterday in my speech on the motion, in the third year of this incoming Budget, we are going to experience a 67% drop.”
“That is not acceptable, because there are people who are employed in this sector and the networks are in place. It is absolutely essential to be able to forward plan, and that is not possible when relying on in-year monitoring. That is regrettable, and, of course, again, it is made impossible by the fact that we are not fit to do a three-year Budget as a consequence of the DUP's walking away from the Executive. <BR /> <BR />The second item that I want to pick up on is the matter of the rural development programme. Members will be aware that, when we were in the EU, we did have the certainty of a six-year multi-annual budget, which gave communities certainty.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak at the Final Stage of the Budget Bill. Yesterday, I spoke on the motion on the 2022-25 Budget, and there are a couple of issues that I want to pick up on today. <BR /> <BR />One of the issues that we as a party are severely concerned about is the fact that the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has made no allocation to the tackling rural poverty and social isolation framework (TRPSI), an initiative within the Department. Members will know from their experience of rural areas that TRPSI funding is an example of where a little can go a long way. It is used to fund the rural networks and many localised initiatives such as the assisted rural transport scheme. For whatever reason, the Department has opted this year to fund this out of in-year monitoring.”
“OK. Go raibh maith agat, I will conclude my comments at that point.”
“<BR /> <BR />In summary, the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs supports the Committee for Finance's report and scrutiny of the 2022-25 draft Budget proposals and welcomes the opportunity to contribute to this discussion. In relation to DAERA's projected spending plans, the Committee has identified a number of issues and several resource and capital pressures that are likely to hamper progress in key strategic policies. It is unfortunate that, due to extenuating circumstances, the draft multi-year Budget cannot be brought forward legislatively, and this will, undoubtedly, increase uncertainty.”
“The last year in which DAERA can claim match funding from the EU for existing RDP schemes will be 2023, and, as a consequence, there is anticipated to be a significant drop-off in funding for those initiatives of 67% in the final year of the multi-year Budget. That presents a real risk to the long-term viability and sustainability of the rural development programme. While DAERA intends to explore alternative sources to replace EU funding via the Shared Prosperity Fund and PEACE PLUS, it is currently unclear how those schemes will operate and the likelihood or otherwise of securing the requisite level of resource to maintain and expand RDP projects.”
“The Committee considers that providing robust resource plans for such initiatives is likely to be more effective and deliver better value for the environment and society than pursuing unproven schemes and that a balance must be struck between funding innovations, which could, theoretically, lead to gains, and delivering demonstrably effective strategies. <BR /> <BR />The Committee also identified a concern about the long-term funding and sustainability of the rural development programme (RDP). I am sure that Members across the House acknowledge the value and importance of the rural development programme projects, which have been supported by EU funding for years, and the benefits that they brought to local communities by developing infrastructure, supporting small businesses, improving connectivity and supporting social mobility.”
“<BR /> <BR />DAERA has allocated £37 million capital funding for the green growth challenge fund over the course of the multi-year Budget, which aims to stimulate projects to test solutions that may help to reduce emissions. Whilst the Committee recognises the importance of encouraging innovation and new ways of working, it has been provided with little assurance about how the fund will be managed. Furthermore, there is a well-established evidence base for solutions that are proven to mitigate climate change, including nature-based interventions such as peatland restoration, rewilding of landscapes and forestry.”
“The Committee was provided with limited assurance about the robustness of the methodology used by the Department to determine the £600 million figure, which was based on an indicative profile that DAERA felt would be required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions until 2026-27. <BR /> <BR />Nevertheless, the Department was allocated £170 million in the draft Budget for the green growth strategy. While the Committee was not provided with any clarity on what outcomes would be delivered via that funding, it is likely that DAERA will struggle to meet pledges from that allocation. It is difficult to quantify what impact that will have on schemes to improve environmental health, support a green economy and meet the legislative requirements of an impending climate change Act.”
“<BR /> <BR />While the outcome of the negotiations between the British Government and the EU on the potential revision of the protocol is awaited, it is likely that DAERA will have to continue to provide some degree of enhanced checking at ports of entry. It will be crucial to ensure that the Department has the necessary human and capital resources in place to discharge its legal responsibilities associated with the protocol and EU exit in the years ahead. <BR /> <BR />On capital resource, the Department has made a substantive bid for additional moneys including £600 million for the green growth strategy.”
“That will inevitably delay the progress of initiatives such as the environment and peatland strategies and climate change plans. <BR /> <BR />Furthermore, the Committee is concerned that no allocation has been made to projects to tackle rural poverty and social isolation, and that DAERA intends to resource those by in-year monitoring exercises and additional allocations from the Treasury. The Committee considers funding for those schemes to be a priority and strongly encourages DAERA to seek any and all options to secure resource for those vital initiatives, which are crucial to supporting the health and well-being of people living in rural communities.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on the Committee for Finance motion on the 2022-25 draft Budget. The Committee scrutinised DAERA's multi-year budget proposals in January and provided the Committee for Finance with its written conclusions on 17 February. <BR /> <BR />On resource DEL, the Fiscal Council's report on the draft Budget finds that DAERA fares relatively well in comparison with other Executive Departments, with a 3·7% projected increase in revenue over the three-year period. Several major resource pressures, however, are anticipated over the Budget period, including an approximate deficit of £6 million per annum against the environment fund and strategic environment fund.”
“I thank the Minister for her response, and I welcome her call. Her decision on a rent freeze has been welcomed by the thousands of families who are facing the spiralling cost of living. Whilst many of its causes are beyond the control of the Assembly — in most cases, they are due to Tory austerity and Brexit — will the Minister agree that it is important that Ministers do whatever they can to help to ease the burden on hard-pressed households?”
“I did not see the DUP at it, making its case.”
“I will address amendment No 17. I restate that, any time that we have met representatives from the sector or heard evidence in Committee, the farmers have all made it very clear that they want to be part of the solution. I do not believe that amendment No 17 enables farmers to be part of the solution.”
“I thank the Minister for taking an intervention. During all the deliberations that we have had with the farming community, farmers have always made it clear to us that they want to be part of the solution. They are the custodians — the guardians — of the countryside, and they want to be part of the solution. I do not believe that amendment No 17 would enable that to happen. <BR /> <BR />The Minister talked earlier about the future of hill farming, and I referred to the Glenelly valley. I will make a couple of important points. If the Minister continues to defy the will of the House by not reintroducing the areas of natural constraint (ANC) hill farm payment, if he continues to push Brexit, if he continues to push his future agricultural policy —”
“Again, we have been listening. We have tabled a whole series of amendments that we believe strengthen the Bill to protect the agri-food sector. That is really important. Our amendment No 2 is mutually exclusive to amendment No 1. That was not necessarily our decision, but it is just the way that it is. We will certainly be supporting our own amendment. My colleague Philip has already outlined the other amendments that we will be supporting.”