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 thank the Member for that intervention. Yes, on this occasion, Mr McCrossan, I agree with you. He is right in what he says: the loss of EU funding is putting a greater strain on the block grant and our Budget here, which is already under pressure. That is a fair point, and I thank him for making it. <BR /> <BR />We had been told by the British Government that they would introduce the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to replace, pound for pound, the lost EU funds. So far that has not materialised. As the Finance Minister stated a few weeks ago, our annual EU funding contribution was approximately £70 million, but the replacement fund, the UK Community Renewal Fund, has an £11 million budget for here, leaving a £60 million hole in our Budget this year as a consequence of Brexit.”
“I thank the Príomh-LeasCheann Comhairle for that, but it is extremely difficult to disaggregate the issue of lost EU funding from agriculture and rural affairs because it has been so crucial here; indeed, it has left a difficulty. The loss of EU funding and, indeed, the review by the British Government's Treasury have made it impossible to bring forward a multi-year Budget that would enable us to plan more strategically.”
“Had we been able to keep it, it could have directly supported innovations and developments in our rural communities, but, unfortunately, it has been pinched off us by the British Government. <BR /> <BR />It is no overstatement that Brexit has driven a wrecking ball through agriculture and rural affairs. Not only has leaving the EU created a policy void as we left the CAP pillar 1 basic farm payment scheme and pillar 2, which is the rural development programme, but it has deprived our communities of investment and development. Whilst we have some certainty for the year ahead for farmers, we have no certainty beyond next year. In comparison, the South of Ireland has secured a £10·7 billion chunk of the EU budget for its farmers and rural communities on top of their national contribution —”
“<BR /> <BR />When considering the impact of funding on agriculture and rural affairs, we have to look at the impact of Brexit, because no sector of our community has been impacted as much by the Budget and the financing of those initiatives. We are concerned about the £19·5 million shortfall in DAERA's budget this year as a consequence of Brexit. That has been compounded by the British Treasury's decision to net off £34·4 million of EU funding. Had we remained in the EU in accordance with the democratic wishes of the majority of people here, we could have rolled over that £34·4 million under what is known as the n+3 rule. We could have spent that £34·4 million up to 2023, which we had in the rural development programme, but, because it has been netted off, the rural projects have been deprived of that £34·4 million.”
“<BR /> <BR />We as a party welcome the £7·5 million contribution from the Department towards Project Stratum. That is absolutely vital. Anyone who represents a rural area will know that that is a hugely strategically important project. Connectivity is a massive issue in rural areas, particularly in the west, which has a disproportionate number of not spots, which increases isolation and inhibits people's ability to work from home. That is crucial as we emerge from the COVID pandemic and perhaps look at new ways of doing things. We also welcome the planned capital investment of over £90 million for improvements in research, development, ICT, rural development and the planned investment in the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) college network.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Budget. During the Supply resolution motion yesterday, when I was speaking in my capacity as Chair of the AERA Committee, I referred to the challenges of planning future budgets in the context of COVID and Brexit and the importance of supporting our public bodies in rural communities to recover and modernise in the next financial year. <BR /> <BR />In recent weeks, we took evidence from the Department on the budget plans for 2021-22 and the plans for June monitoring, and we are pleased with the investment of £9·8 million in 2021-22 to support the agri-food sector and the roll-out of the new surveillance scheme co-led by DAERA and the Belfast Trust to facilitate early detection of coronavirus in waste water outlets and the £2 million investment for green growth strategies in rural areas.”
“<BR /> <BR />The role of nature-friendly farming and the potential opportunities that it can bring to our farming communities must be recognised in future strategic planning, and our local farmers must be fully equipped and supported to transition to eco-friendly practices that will help them to be economically and environmentally productive in the decades ahead.”
“<BR /> <BR />Government-directed policy oversight is essential, and it is vital that the importance of nature-friendly farming and its benefits are recognised and included in the planning and development of future agricultural strategy. The Committee welcomes comments by the Minister that future policy will focus on delivering improved resilience and environmental sustainability in the agriculture sector and that the overarching aim of the Department's future rural policy framework is to create a sustainable rural community where people want to live, work and be active.”
“In particular, consideration will have to be given to how future payment schemes manage the dual aims of agri-food production and engaging in eco-friendly practices, as well as to how farmers can be incentivised and rewarded for nature-friendly farming activity. <BR /> <BR />Farmers will also need to be supported through formal training, continuing professional development and ongoing knowledge exchange in order to identify and deliver sustainable practices on their farm and share ideas and innovations with peers. Schemes must be developed to ensure that work practices will be replicated speedily and effectively throughout the sector, with farmers being supported by grants and the provision of adequate resources to undertake pilots.”
“<BR /> <BR />However, our farmers cannot do that on their own, and the Committee recognises the challenges faced by our sector in making changes at a time of uncertainty. That is why our farming communities must be actively and appropriately supported to make a just transition to engage in nature-friendly farming.”
“For example, through measures to restore the land's capacity to store and sequester carbon, farmers can play their part in tackling the effects of climate change. There is also a potential economic benefit to farmers of developing produce via sustainable methods, given the rising market and demand for nature-friendly products and the increasing interest from consumers in the origin of agri-foods and the eco-effects of what they are buying. A shift away from intensive farming measures and overproduction, including the excessive use of fertiliser and animal feeds, may also help to improve the long-term sustainability and viability of our natural land resources, thereby ensuring that our farming communities can continue to produce goods and be productive for years to come.”
“In recent weeks, the Committee has heard from a range of stakeholders about the importance of ensuring that our agriculture sector is sustainable economically and environmentally. Nature-friendly farming presents an opportunity to deliver that. There is the potential for each and every farmer to engage in nature-friendly farming through simple measures that include hedgerow restoration, tree planting and placing wild flowers at field margins. There are many examples of local farmers actively engaging in sustainable practices that have helped to improve the organic health and biodiversity of their land, leading to better productivity and reduced costs. <BR /> <BR />Many opportunities are presented by nature-friendly farming.”
“The challenge of climate change, which affects us all, also poses some significant questions for farmers about how they can maintain output whilst contributing to strategies to reduce negative effects on our environment. <BR /> <BR />In order to weather those challenges, it is vital that our local farming communities are supported to be resilient, sustainable and productive in their activities, and the Committee believes that nature-friendly farming should be at the core of future strategies that enable that. Embracing nature-friendly farming means that local farmers should be encouraged, directed and supported to engage in practices that not only deliver high-quality and safe produce but help our ecosystem to thrive and flourish.”
“Our agriculture sector is essential in supporting local employment, particularly in the food and drinks industry, and in enabling rural communities to survive and prosper. <BR /> <BR />However, our farming sector faces stark challenges and uncertainties. The fallout from Brexit continues to present a threat, with the likes of the impending free trade agreement between the British Government and Australia likely to undermine our competitiveness and access to markets, along with the uncertainty about funding for direct payment due to the loss of EU finance. The agriculture sector also faces a slow recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic as local farmers seek to recoup the losses from the drop in consumer demand over the past 18 months, so the sector will remain vulnerable to any future economic shocks for some time.”
“The AERA Committee welcomes the opportunity to highlight the vital role that farming communities in the North play in supporting the economy and in protecting, sustaining and developing our environment. The Committee believes that nature-friendly farming practices are crucial for the long-term viability and success of our agriculture sector and that farming communities must be adequately supported to adopt such measures so that they can continue to thrive in the future. <BR /> <BR />The importance of agri-food production to our society cannot be overstated. Our local farmers return well in excess of £2 billion worth of produce annually, and the high quality of our dairy, beef and crops are recognised across our markets and those of neighbours as some of the best in the world.”
“<BR /> <BR />During tomorrow's debate on the Budget, I will speak in my capacity as the Sinn Féin spokesperson on agriculture and rural affairs.”
“That is welcome progress against New Decade, New Approach, and it will, hopefully, provide better assurance and scrutiny and build greater levels of trust among the public with regard to expenditure. <BR /> <BR />On behalf of the Committee, I close by highlighting the challenges associated with the Budget planning process and why we are having these debates and discussions on financial planning now, when the budgetary forecasts for this year have been, largely, agreed. The Assembly should be engaged in Budget planning as early as possible in order to allow Members sufficient time and latitude to challenge the projected strategic expenditure of Departments and to help steer them towards initiatives that will have the most policy benefit and outcome.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Department has advised the Committee that it does not intend to make any bid against the June monitoring round as it has sufficient budgetary allocation in this year to cover its resource and capital expenditure. However, given the challenges highlighted by the Committee, the Department is urged to actively horizon scan for pressures and areas where securing additional resource could improve capability and policy development in our rural and environment sectors. <BR /> <BR />The Committee also welcomes the recent moves by the Department of Finance regarding the establishment of an independent fiscal council and hopes that that body will be granted sufficient autonomy and powers to support the development of multi-year and sustainable budgets across economic sectors.”
“Had more progress been made, it may have been possible to launch or pump-prime new strategies for this financial year. The delay in engaging in that is unfortunate. I hope that the consultation will generate viable strategies for future economic development in our rural communities. <BR /> <BR />The Committee welcomes the planned capital investment of over £90 million in 2021-22 that will support improvements in research and development strategies, ICT infrastructure and rural development programmes. However, it is essential that the Department be supported to access any additional capital moneys that may become available over the next year to boost our rural development framework and ensure that our agricultural industry can continue to modernise its equipment, infrastructure and estate to deliver innovations and best practice.”
“That deficit is a direct result of the British Treasury's decision to net off £14·4 million of ring-fenced EU funding against other manifesto commitments and a failure to fund £5·1 million towards programmes to support disease eradication. While the Department has confirmed to the Committee that it anticipates having sufficient funding this year to meet pillar 1 and pillar 2 farm payments, the £19·5 million shortfall represents a significant resource opportunity loss that could have been directed to support innovations and developments in our rural communities. That is being compounded by the lengthy time frame to launch a consultation on a new rural policy framework. Whilst the Committee welcomes the recent progress from the Department on that, we have been calling for the consultation to be brought forward for many months.”
“It is essential that DAERA be provided with the investment needed to ensure that sufficient resource and staffing levels are in place at our ports of entry to comply with the checking of goods as they are imported from Britain, in accordance with the protocol, particularly given that those requirements could increase over the next year. It is also vital that there be appropriate support for businesses and industries that may encounter any delays or disruption as a result of checks. <BR /> <BR />The Committee is particularly concerned about the projected £19·5 million shortfall in DAERA's budget this year, which is due to a loss of EU funding that could have been rolled over.”
“That is a vital and worthwhile project to enhance infrastructure, connectivity and capability in rural areas and will be essential in driving equality and improving livelihoods in rural communities. However, the Committee is concerned about the significant economic challenges facing our agriculture and environment sectors and urges the Department to be mindful of the current and future pressures that will emerge over the coming year and to take appropriate action to ensure that those sectors are supported. <BR /> <BR />It is crucial that our rural communities be provided with sufficient investment to support the transition to eco-friendly practices and that such innovations are encouraged and incentivised in the sector so that the farming community can do its fair share in helping to mitigate the effects of climate change.”
“<BR /> <BR />As I outlined in the Budget debate several weeks ago, the Committee is pleased to see the development of some important investment proposals over the next financial year, including an investment of £9·8 million in 2021-22 in order to support the agri-food sector as it emerges out of the pandemic; the roll-out of a new surveillance scheme, co-led by DAERA and the Belfast Trust, to facilitate early detection of coronavirus in waste-water outlets; and a £2 million investment to support green growth strategies in rural communities. <BR /> <BR />The Committee also welcomes the commitment from the Department to contribute £7·5 million in capital funding to Project Stratum, to support, in collaboration with the Department for the Economy, the roll-out of high-speed broadband across rural communities.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Supply resolution motion today. The AERA Committee recognises the challenges in planning future Budgets, the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant financial difficulties posed by Brexit. The Committee recently took evidence from the Department on the budget plans for 2021-22 and the plans for the June monitoring round. While the Committee welcomes the continuation of recurrent funding for many of DAERA's core work programmes, several outstanding economic challenges need to be addressed urgently in order to ensure that our public bodies and rural communities are supported to recover and modernise in the next financial year.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I am sure that he agrees with me that, in the context of the overall budget, the TRPSI programme represents a modest amount but is an example of how a modest amount can go a long way. Does the Minister agree that a well-funded TRPSI programme will be essential to enable rural community organisations and rural communities at large to emerge from the COVID pandemic?”
“This just exposes the lies and spin of Brexit because not only are we losing funding but we are losing the control to manage what funding is left. <BR /> <BR />To conclude, I thank you for your indulgence, and I support the motion.”
“The Committee calls on the Minister and the Executive as a whole to ensure that our agri-food sector and its associated stakeholders are supported adequately to meet these challenges and to thrive in the coming years. <BR /> <BR />Briefly, in my role as Sinn Féin spokesperson on agriculture and rural affairs, I underline the fact that Brexit is a huge threat to our sector. Of major concern last week was Minister Murphy's revelation that we have a £60 million hole in our budget this year as a consequence of lost EU funding that has not been replaced by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The £11 million Community Renewal Fund will not even be administered by the Executive here. The Brexiteers told us that they were "taking back control" and that there would be all these wonderful opportunities.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee welcomes the planned capital investment of over £90 million in 2021-22 that will support improvements in research and development strategies, ICT infrastructure and rural development programmes. However, it is essential that the Department be supported to access any additional capital moneys that may become available over the next year to boost our rural development framework and ensure that our agriculture industry can continue to modernise its equipment, infrastructure and estate to deliver innovations and best practice. <BR /> <BR />The challenges that face our rural communities are stark and wide-ranging, and there are many uncertainties posed by Brexit, the outworking of the pandemic and the future transition to eco-friendly initiatives to address climate change.”
“The continuation of the £18·8 million Brexit-related funding from last year is welcome but is insufficient to employ enough suitably trained staff to undertake checks at our ports. The Committee is particularly concerned about the projected £19·5 million shortfall in DAERA's budget this year to support farm payments that would have been delivered via EU funding. The deficit is the direct result of the Treasury's decision to net off £14·4 million of ring-fenced EU funding against other manifesto commitments and a failure to fund £5·1 million towards programmes to support disease eradication. It is vital that that funding pressure be addressed in order to provide assurance to our rural communities and to ensure that they are supported at this particularly challenging time.”
“You can blame your colleague Mr O'Toole, and Mr Allister, for distracting me.”
“Yes. The protocol will protect our farmers. We watch the British Government entertain trade deals with Australia, a huge beef-producing continent that wants unfettered access to the British market, which, of course, is our main market. When the British market becomes flooded with Australian beef — of course, that will be the precedent for trade deals with the USA and the Mercosur countries — with which we cannot compete, we will need the protocol. We need to work with the rest of the EU to access other EU markets and other opportunities across the globe, because we will be completely displaced from the British market. We need a protocol to protect our farmers and agri-food businesses here on the island of Ireland.”
“I could not agree more with the Member. The protocol is in place to protect our farming communities and to facilitate and protect east-west trade. I welcome the fact that, recently, the European Commission encouraged the North of Ireland to be part of an all-island protected geographical indicator status for Irish grass-fed beef. That can only be made possible by the protocol.”
“Members will have heard the media reports in recent days about how the proposed free trade agreement between the British Government and Australia threatens to undermine the viability of farming communities across these islands. It is essential that our local farmers are supported with appropriate funding to remain accessible, competitive and sustainable in the years ahead, so that our high-quality agriculture produce can be traded effectively in our closest markets. <BR /> <BR />The Committee also recognises the additional requirements posed by the protocol. It is essential that DAERA is provided with the investment needed to ensure that sufficient resource and staffing levels are in place at our ports of entry to —.”
“<BR /> <BR />The pressures on rural communities to modernise and innovate to tackle the challenges associated with climate change are significant, and, whilst the Committee welcomes the planned £2 million of investment in this financial year for green growth strategies, it is vital that the Department puts in place sufficient resources to support farming communities to transition to eco-friendly farming practices and ensures that innovations and best practice can be disseminated across the sector. <BR /> <BR />The biggest threat to our agriculture economy is from the many challenges and uncertainties posed by Brexit.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee particularly welcomes the planned investment of £9·8 million in 2021-22 to support the agri-food sector as it emerges from the pandemic and the resourcing of innovations such as the planned new surveillance scheme, which is co-led by DAERA and the Belfast Trust, to facilitate early detection of coronavirus in waste water outlets. However, our agriculture producers have been profoundly impacted by the downturn in market activity due to COVID, and it is vital that our farming industry has access to sufficient support in order to continue to deliver high-quality produce for consumers across the country and further afield.”
“The AERA Committee recognises the significant pressure on future budget planning as a consequence of Brexit and the challenges posed by COVID-19 and the recovery from the pandemic. Whilst the Committee welcomes the continuation of recurrent funding for many of DAERA's core work programmes, there are several outstanding fiscal challenges that need to be urgently addressed in order to ensure that public bodies in rural communities are supported to recover and modernise in the next financial year.”
“I thank the Minister for her comments and welcome them. She will be aware that the 2019 Audit Office's report indicated that fair coverage should be provided for the rural road network from the structural maintenance budget. I raise that with the Minister and ask her to reaffirm her commitment to addressing the issues of potholes and the maintenance of rural roads, which have caused so much havoc for motorists and are serious issues, particularly for those who represent rural areas.”
“In order to give adequate scrutiny to the Bill and given the fact that the Committee has quite a tight schedule, particularly as we commence scrutiny of the Climate Change Bill, we respectfully request an extension of the Committee Stage of the Bill until January 2022.”
“In order to ensure that the AERA Committee has the scope to give due regard to specific aspects of the Bill and other wider issues that it presents, the motion is submitted to extend the Committee Stage until January 2022.”
“This important legislation will facilitate the resumption of payments to Downpatrick and Down Royal racecourses, which have been unable to receive allocations from the horse racing fund in recent years. That has been caused by a change in the managing operator at Down Royal and the need to ensure that the fund complies with subsidy control regulations. The Bill seeks to address those issues to ensure that payments can once again be allocated to the two racecourses. <BR /> <BR />While the Bill is quite focused in its scope, it raises wider issues that may need to be considered by the Department on resourcing the fund, making payments and, potentially, making other entities eligible to receive payments.”
“The Minister will appreciate that previous EU funding programmes have had a hugely transformative impact on promoting peace and prosperity. Does she have any assessment of the impact of previous programmes and, indeed, of the pending PEACE PLUS programme?”
“In my case, when the fire happened down our way last year, the community association was able to divert traffic on local roads to prevent people coming to look at the fire, which was blocking the roads for the Fire Service. It is important that any strategy also has that aspect of involving the local community centrally in partnership with the Fire Service in helping to deal with those matters. <BR /> <BR />To conclude, as we approach the summer season, I make the call that people need to think seriously about the potential implications of their actions in starting those fires, either by accident or deliberately. The potential risks to life and property, farm businesses, natural habitats and the environment are absolutely huge.”
“I raised that with the Minister last year and, again, the force majeure did happen. <BR /> <BR />I commend the idea of a peatlands strategy. However, when it comes to a strategy, in responding to such wildfires it is hugely important that the local community works in partnership with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS); indeed, just a couple of years ago, I hosted a seminar in Gortin with the Fire and Rescue Service and local farmers, which was headed up by the Fire Service's lead wildfire officer, to discuss a partnership model. Local communities and farmers will know back roads and bóithríns and, maybe, the ways to the source of a blaze that the Fire Service might not be able to get to. They can play a part in the peripheral aspects of such fires.”
“A neighbour of mine who is a farmer lost 3 km of fencing as well as gateposts, fixtures and fittings; indeed, had it not been for the Fire Service, the local community and local farmers who used their slurry tanks for water to help to contain the blaze, that farmer would have lost their house as well. It is frustrating. The people who are impacted find that getting compensation is difficult because there is a huge onus on them to provide proof that it was done by a proscribed organisation or by a group of three or more individuals. That comes at a huge cost. To be fair, the Department is good at getting its force majeure applications in, so at least they are not out for that loss, but it is frustrating for them to have to carry the burden of the cost of that fencing and the cost of the associated fixtures and fittings.”
“From the environmental perspective, although the green shoots of recovery happen very quickly, the richness of the biodiversity and habitats takes years to recover, if it ever does. In the Murrins ASSI, which was impacted by the blaze last year, we have bog mosses, cotton grass, bogbean, tall heather, cross-leaved heath, tall bog-sedge, crowberry and much more. We have a rich biodiversity. Of course, for wildlife, that becomes a habitat. Although the green shoots have come back, the richness of the biodiversity is simply not there. It will take years to restore. <BR /> <BR />The economic impact is huge as well. There are many landowners in my part of the world, and, I am sure, everywhere, who have had their land and their fencing and posts destroyed.”
“I am told that the scale of the devastation extends to more than 3·5 kilometres. We are aware that that fire may have been started deliberately, which is very frustrating and angering. The National Trust says that it will take years for the landscape to recover. Unfortunately, I have some experience of that in my own part of the world, in west Tyrone: in the Murrins area of special scientific interest (ASSI), there was a fire last year that devastated 150 hectares. I know from first-hand experience about the very serious ecological and human impact that that has on local communities, biodiversity and natural habitats. <BR /> <BR />Wildfires have a devastating impact on so many levels.”
“I welcome today's motion. Like everybody else in the Chamber, I want to be identified with paying tribute to our emergency service personnel across all of Ireland who were involved in tackling the wildfires that ravaged the Mournes and the Killarney National Park. I also pay tribute to the local community that assisted in that very gallant effort. More than 100 firefighters were involved in the operation in the Mournes; it took three days to bring the fire under control. We see how those fires spread. They cause untold damage to our environment and wildlife, and they are a substantial risk to life and property. In addition, as has been pointed out, the wildfires pose a risk to our drinking water. <BR /> <BR />The wildfires in the Mournes were declared a major incident by our fire service.”
“I very much welcome the Minister's announcement of this overdue and well-deserved investment. Minister, has any consideration been given to working in partnership with other such research centres across the island of Ireland? Have you any assessment of how this investment could benefit our inclusion in the protected geographical indication (PGI) status for Irish grass-fed beef?”
“Does he not accept that, given that a lot of our agri-food is produced across the island of Ireland, we are sending the wrong message to the rest of the world that the North is not committed to climate change legislation as required by the Paris agreement whereas the South of Ireland is?”
“The Minister quoted Lord Deben and the UK CCC as the experts. I do not take away from the fact that they are experts. Does he also accept Lord Deben's message that, if we do not sign up to climate legislation, we will be punished by the rest of the world?”