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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“Farmers in the South continue to benefit from the EU's reformed common agricultural policy, which provides stable funding, environmental support and longer-term planning. The industry is concerned about how producers here will remain competitive in that context. <BR /> <BR />While the intention to modernise and localise agricultural support is clear, concerns remain. Stakeholders across the sector have voiced reservations about the shift from mandatory to discretionary funding for horticulture, particularly given the divergence from the South, where EU support continues to be more robust. They are also concerned about how that disparity could impact on competitiveness and long-term sustainability for producers here.”
“As this is the Final Stage of the Agriculture Bill, I welcome the opportunity to reflect on its purpose and implications and the issues raised during its passage. <BR /> <BR />The Bill is an outcome of Brexit. I remind Members that the majority of people here did not vote for Brexit. With the move away from the common agricultural policy (CAP), there is a need to replace legacy EU schemes with new, locally administered arrangements. The Bill makes provision for changes to the fruit and vegetable aid scheme and the agri-food information and promotion schemes, including the introduction of discretionary funding. While that reflects a shift in how support is managed, it highlights the growing difference between the North and the South.”
“I was pleased to note that the A5 was included on the agenda of the NSMC's most recent meeting. I know that you, First Minister, share the disappointment of the overwhelming majority of the community that the project has been paused as a result of last week's court judgement. Does the First Minister agree that it is vital that we redouble our efforts and work in partnership with the Irish Government, the councils and stakeholders, such as the A5 Enough is Enough campaign, to get the A5 built?”
“How can we move forward?". One of the overriding themes among those who spoke to me was that it is important that we all work together. We need to get around the table and work together to get the project back on track and get the new A5 built, because our families, communities, businesses and the people of the north-west deserve no less.”
“It is not only an important route because it connects the north-west of Ireland to Dublin; it is an important internal route in the North to get those of us from Omagh and Strabane, and all the communities in between, to Belfast and the east, which is very important. The setback is very disappointing, but, as she indicated here last week, the Minister is determined to see the road being developed. The judgement is 100 pages, and she will have to go through it with her officials and the legal teams to plot a way forward. <BR /> <BR />I have spoken to many people since last Monday, including yesterday, when I was down at Croke Park for the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-final. I spoke to probably hundreds of people yesterday, and it is a dominant topic of conversation among them. We are all asking, "What is the next step?”
“I was in the courtroom last Monday to hear the ruling on the A5 upgrade. The sense of disappointment was palpable. My first thoughts, and those of everyone else who was there, were with the families who have lost loved ones along that notorious road. Every single day that the upgrade to that road is delayed brings the risk of more accidents, carnage and death. I use the road every day, including this morning. I also have children who drive on that road every day, and my heart does be in my mouth: you are always waiting for that call and you are always frightened. <BR /> <BR />The A5 upgrade is crucial, not just for the West Tyrone constituency but for the wider north-west, to save lives, create jobs and reduce journey times.”
“Like the Minister, I was in the court yesterday when the judgement was made. I share her disappointment and regret. However, that is nothing compared with the pain that has been experienced by the families who have, tragically, lost loved ones on the road. Will the Minister assure us that she will keep working to deliver the A5 and save lives?”
“<BR /> <BR />In conclusion, the Committee agreed to recommend that the draft Environmental Protection (Disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls and other Dangerous Substances) (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2025 be affirmed and made by the Assembly.”
“The Committee also queried the cost to NIE Networks of more than £385,000. We were advised that that is the cost of decommissioning the equipment that would still have been in use and that the economist who did the regulatory impact assessment considered that to be a reasonable cost under the "polluter pays principle". When Committee members sought clarity on whether all elements of the draft statutory rule stem from the Stockholm Convention and are replicated from Britain, with no deviation, officials confirmed that that was the case. At our meeting on 12 May in Castle Archdale, we considered the final draft SR, and members agreed to support it in this debate.”
“<BR /> <BR />Officials highlighted the fact that holders of PCB-contaminated equipment have to register that equipment with NIEA, and an online registration system will go live shortly after the amendments come into force. We heard that officials had also been engaging with other regulators in the UK and with NIE Networks, which is the largest holder in NI of potentially PCB-contaminated equipment. The Committee queried whether there had been any negative concerns in the consultation about the amendments and was reassured to hear that, given the impact that PCBs can have on human and animal health, the responses were supportive of their removal.”
“The Committee was concerned to hear that PCBs remain common contaminants of animal and human food chains and that diet remains one of the main sources of exposure in the general population. We heard that the amendments will require all equipment containing PCBs that are above the new lower threshold concentration of 0·005% PCBs by weight and a volume of 0·05 cubic decimetres to be removed from use by the end of 2025 and to ensure environmentally sound waste management going forward. We were advised that not making the amendments would mean NI remaining divergent from Britain and the EU and being in breach of the Stockholm convention and the Windsor framework.”
“The Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs first considered the SL1 letter for the draft amendment regulations at its meeting on 8 May 2025. The Committee heard from the officials that DAERA intended to make the statutory rule (SR) under the draft affirmative procedure for the implementation of amendments to the Environmental Protection Regulations (NI) 2000. That will enable us to comply with the Stockholm convention and remain aligned with the EU persistent organic pollutants legislation, as required under the Windsor framework, and the SR will bring us in line with Britain. <BR /> <BR />We heard from officials that PCBs are persistent organic pollutants and that parties to the Stockholm convention are committed to removing them from production.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Minister, you referred to the exclusion of the £229 million of agriculture funding. Can you explain to us why it is important to have agriculture excluded from the relative funding per head methodology?”
“<BR /> <BR />Furthermore, the proposed nitrogen fertiliser cuts are not only unworkable but based on guidelines that do not reflect the North's conditions. AgriSearch warns that those limits could slash grass yields or force costly concentrates use or even herd reductions and, perversely, increase phosphorus run-off by over 200 tons a year. The Department must revisit its economic, rural and equality assessments and work with farmers, not against them. We need policies that are practical, proportionate and based on evidence, not blanket rules that could drive farms out of business.”
“<BR /> <BR />Fourth and most concerning is the fact that the equality impact assessment (EQIA) fails to assess how the proposals disproportionately affect rural communities. The policy is described as technical and unrelated to section 75 groups, but that ignores reality. In many areas that are more than an hour from Belfast, farming is the backbone of the local economy. DAERA's figures show that nearly half of businesses in those areas are tied to agriculture, forestry or fishing. DAERA has acknowledged that the measures will hit rural areas harder than urban ones, yet the equality impact assessment does not reflect that, nor does it meet the Department's statutory duty under the Rural Needs Act 2016, which requires consideration of the social and economic needs of rural communities.”
“With significant new obligations being proposed for thousands of farmers, that is a failure to evaluate the financial and practical implications, especially for rural communities. Thirdly, there is an inconsistency between the consultation document and the draft regulations. The consultation document states that the new phosphorus balance limit will apply to all farms that exceed 150 kg of nitrogen per hectare whether by production or import, but the regulations refer only to production, not import. That creates confusion and undermines the integrity of the process. If the final rules differ from the consultation document, it will call the whole exercise into question.”
“Many farmers have already invested in low-emissions slurry-spreading equipment through the farm business improvement scheme. That shows a willingness to act, but those changes must be funded, workable and fair. We have serious concerns about the consultation process and whether it meets the Department's legal commitments under the equality scheme and the Rural Needs Act 2016. <BR /> <BR />First, public participation was undermined. We have had reports of people being unable to join online webinars due to broken links, denying them a voice and a chance to ask questions. That is not acceptable, especially for policy changes on such a scale. Secondly, no economic impact assessment was carried out.”
“<BR /> <BR />Across the North, the farming community is embracing environmental innovation. The soil health scheme, for example, is helping farmers to manage nutrients, improve soil quality and sequester carbon in a data-driven, science-based way. The sustainable utilisation of livestock slurry project is another example, giving promising solutions for better nutrient use without forced compliance. The soon-to-be-opened Farming with Nature scheme will also provide on-farm solutions to manage nutrients, increase biodiversity and protect our waterways. <BR /> <BR />Farmers have reduced their use of artificial nitrogen fertiliser compared with five years ago, demonstrating a positive shift towards more sustainable and environmentally responsible farming practices.”
“No one in the Chamber denies that there is an urgent need to tackle pollution in Lough Neagh and in rivers across the North. The environment is in decline. Environmental decline is real, and we must act. The question is not whether we act but how we act. The NAP proposals for 2026-29, which include stricter phosphorus limits, mandatory low-emission slurry-spreading equipment and compulsory buffer strips for arable and horticulture land, threaten to impose heavy costs, increased red tape and impractical conditions on farms of all sizes and not just the 3,500 farms that are mentioned in the motion. The proposals risk devastating agriculture, especially that for small family farms that are already stretched by tight margins, rising costs and existing regulatory burdens.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. We have heard mention, certainly from television reports, of vast quantities of money being involved. At some stage, will the Department consider those as proceeds of crime?”
“Minister, given the fact that a lot of our food is produced on an island-wide basis, do you see any opportunities from the recent EU-UK agreement to enhance island-wide cooperation in the agri-food sector?”
“On top of that — we have heard this week after week in Committee, most recently from the mushroom sector — British Home Office immigration rules are crippling the industry here. The mushroom industry here has been crippled because it cannot get seasonal workers. <BR /> <BR />It is dubious that the British Government will ever rerun the Brexit vote. That simply will not happen. It is important therefore that we have our say. We should let the people here choose: stay in a sinking UK or rejoin the EU as part of a new Ireland.”
“Whilst that happened here, our counterparts down South received €9·8 billion for the period 2023-27 under the common agricultural policy plan. Their budget for single farm payments this year is €2·1 billion. On top of that, they have a sheep welfare scheme down South that we do not have here. They also have a beef welfare scheme. They have a €60 million agri-climate rural environment scheme (ACRES). They have a €320 million capital investment programme for farms. They also have a €0·5 billion rural development programme. We do not have a rural development programme here as a consequence of leaving the EU. That is all in the context of a much more favourable agricultural tax environment there. They have agricultural relief down South that we do not have here as a consequence of our being manacled to Westminster.”
“Thankfully, our Ministers and our parties have agreed to ring-fence that budget within the under-pressure block grant.”
“<BR /> <BR />As I have said previously, in the North, we voted resolutely against Brexit, and its impact has been felt very keenly, especially in our agricultural heartlands. Indeed, as the agriculture spokesperson for Sinn Féin, I looked at some of the statistics to see the impact. When we left the EU, the UK Government promised that any lost EU funding would be replaced pound for pound. However, the Shared Prosperity Fund made no mention of the CAP funding being replaced. We were grossly underfunded compared with the position before Brexit. Whilst the British Tory Government did ring-fence the single farm payment budget of £330 million for a number of years, eventually that ring fence was taken away, and we were told to find the money ourselves.”
“The recent reset of EU-UK relations is a positive step forward in rebuilding the bridges that were damaged by Brexit. In a time of global economic uncertainty, it is reassuring to see the removal of barriers between us and our largest trading partner, the EU. <BR /> <BR />The deal promises fewer checks and less red tape for the agri-food sector, which is essential for our farmers and rural communities. Keir Starmer has said that the boost to the UK economy will be in the region of £9 billion. However, analysts have pointed out that it will recover only a small fraction of the overall cost of Brexit, which in itself confirms it to be an act of historic, diplomatic and economic self-harm.”
“— go some way to prevent any further loss of life and heartbreak for families.”
“In Ontario in Canada, if a school bus is stationary and the lights are flashing, a vehicle that is either approaching or coming behind must stop at least 20 metres away until either the lights on the bus go off or the bus takes off. It is important that we get legislation to enforce that. <BR /> <BR />There are issues, yes, as not all children travel on designated buses that are obviously school buses. However, if there is the political will to sort this, a way will be found. It will be found through the legislative process. I welcome the Minister's commitment. I hope that the legislation can be progressed without any unnecessary delay to —”
“I have raised the issue previously. I know that DFI and DE have engaged in a lot of awareness raising through, for example, Share the Road to Zero and other road safety resources, but legislation is absolutely vital to reduce death and injury around school buses and at schools. I am glad to note that the Minister is minded to take this forward. Obviously, a Bill would go through Committee Stage, Consideration Stage and Further Consideration Stage. It is important that, when it does so, we look at international best practice. I have colleagues who teach in the UAE and friends in Canada. I know that, in the UAE, it is illegal to pass a stationary school bus. If a driver attempts to do that, they face a fine of 1,000 AED, which is equivalent to £210, and 10 penalty points on their licence.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion. I commend the SDLP for bringing it to the House. I welcome the families who have lost loved ones through tragedies at bus stops. I can only imagine the heartbreak that you are experiencing. Indeed, as a parent, I can hardly imagine what you feel. I witnessed my two children narrowly miss being hit by a car that sped past a bus that they were attempting to get on. That was about five years ago. Until this day, if I am there when they are leaving in the morning, it is the last thing that I tell them. As they head out the front door to get on the bus — if I am not there, I ring them — I say, "Listen: just be careful when you are getting on that bus". It is incredibly dangerous.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Given the fact that over a third of the population live in rural areas, will there be opportunities for rural investment? How many jobs will be created as a result of the Budget allocations?”
“<BR /> <BR />I wish the Tyrone minors every success in the next game in the All-Ireland series against Cork. I also wish the under-20s team well. I hope that the under-20s enjoy the year as All-Ireland champions and can go for a fourth All-Ireland title next year.”
“It was amazing to see young people on the field at half-time and at the end of the game to get autographs from their home-grown, local heroes. Young boys and girls look up to those footballers, who are from our community, our parishes and the local schools. They are the sort of role models whom we want our children to have. <BR /> <BR />I pay tribute to the managers — Gerard Donnelly of Tyrone minors and Paul Devlin of Tyrone under-20s — and back-room staff of both teams. I also note the contribution of the parents and guardians of the footballers, who put in a lot of time, sacrifice and dedication. The football series happens during examination time for many of the players. It is a remarkable feat for them to do all the studying that is required for their examinations and to compete at that level of football.”
“I pay tribute to two Tyrone GAA underage teams on their fantastic victories last week. Tyrone minors won the Ulster Championship against Cavan, and Tyrone under-20s won the All-Ireland Championship against Louth. I was present at both games, which were fantastic, edge-of-your-seat encounters and were played in the best spirit of the game. <BR /> <BR />It is an absolutely incredible achievement for the under-20s team to have won its third All-Ireland Championship in four years. The final, which was played at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh, was a very exciting game. Tyrone ran at Louth from all angles and displayed fantastic clinical finishes. I was also at Brewster Park at the weekend to watch Tyrone minors win the Ulster Championship.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. He mentioned the value of shared cooperation and collaboration. Will the recent reset in EU-UK relations have any beneficial impact on the environment work sector?”
“<BR /> <BR />Reference has been made to phases. Am I right in saying that you can choose one of the phases and that there is not a fixed succession, so that you can go into phase 1, 2 or 3? <BR /> <BR />Finally, our briefing note mentioned third-party landscape project coordinators in phase 2, so I would be grateful for a wee bit of information about who those project coordinators might be. Are they groups? Are they organisations? How will they be appointed by the Department, and how will they work with clusters of farmers? <BR /> <BR />I welcome the SR. We support it, and I thank the Minister for coming here today.”
“For example, tree planting is part of Farming with Nature, but how does that interface with the woodland grant schemes and the other schemes that the Forest Service has brought out? How does it interface with the farm sustainability payment, given that the application window is not aligned with the farm sustainability payment deadline? The correspondence says that all actions must be completed by the end of March 2026. I presume that it will be autumn before applications can be made, so actions will have to be completed within five or six months, which will be challenging. Whilst that may be the planting season for hedges, it is not a good time of year to be fencing. This is the time of year that you want to be fencing along rivers, for example, rather than in the dead of winter, when it is wet.”
“We welcome the fact that it was co-designed in partnership with the APSG and the Farming with Nature co-design group that was established in June 2024. <BR /> <BR />We highlighted a number of issues in Committee, however, and I would appreciate it, if the Minister would address them in his response today. The Minister has indicated that there will be a cap on this, but we do not know what it is. There are farmers who welcome the fact that the scheme is coming in but recognise that it will be funded from a cut to their single farm payment, so that is obviously a concern. Farmers are also anxious that payments may go exclusively to landowners — people who do not produce food or farm the land — so perhaps the Minister could address that in his response. <BR /> <BR />We also posed questions. How does the scheme interface with other schemes?”
“I thank the Minister for coming to the Chamber on the matter of the SR on the Farming with Nature scheme. As Robbie said, we have considered this in Committee and had written and oral briefings on it. Sinn Féin supports its objective of increasing the extent of habitats on farmland through schemes such as increasing the number of habitats, protecting watercourses, creating nature corridors and increasing sequestration. We recognise that it is important to have a successor to the environmental farming scheme, and I recall that, at the outset, when this came up for discussion, the Department said that it would look at what was good and not so good about previous environmental schemes and pick the best bits to create this one.”
“Like the Minister, we believe that Brexit was a disaster and was inconsistent with the wishes of the people who live here. However, we welcome anything that reduces trade impediments east-west or west-east. Minister, are you confident that the latest agreement — I appreciate that it is not long since it was agreed — will make the movement of agri-goods easier and perhaps, ultimately, reduce costs for the consumer in the long run?”
“I thank the Minister for his response. Will the Minister give an update on the heritage, culture and creativity programme?”
“We must continue to engage and work on those issues with farming organisations and their representatives to help address them where we can, given the huge impact of farm businesses on the vitality of rural communities, on the economy and on underpinning our food security.”
“<BR /> <BR />Whilst the mood at the show was vibrant and good — and, importantly, the sun shone — farmers are deeply concerned at proposals that are coming down the track that could have a serious impact on their livelihoods and the wider rural economy. The four days were a really good opportunity for farmers and people who are not farmers to come and speak to us about their concerns. Some of the key issues that were raised with us during the show were the inheritance tax changes that are coming down the track; the review of the nutrients action programme; the spiralling rate of bovine TB; the future of farm support; ammonia; planning; and even the recent trade agreement with the USA, which was mentioned a few times.”
“I commend the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society for another hugely successful Balmoral show, which was attended by over 100,000 people over four days. It was a fantastic networking event and a fantastic platform to showcase the talent and creativity of our rural communities. I had the opportunity to attend for three days. We had our party stand there; we had an AERA Committee meeting at the show; and the Assembly had a base there as well. It was a wonderful opportunity to engage with farmers. We also had a very good Q&A session with the Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster. I commend and thank the staff for helping to facilitate that.”
“It is not just about DFI, however: I am Sinn Féin's agriculture spokesperson, and the AERA and Infrastructure Committees jointly hosted a session in the Senate Chamber to give a voice to people who have concerns. On the agriculture side of things, farmers have questions about the future of their entitlements, the impact of the ammonia action plan not being published and on their ability to replace buildings and herds that are being closed down by bovine TB. There is no doubt that those questions deserve to be answered, but the serial blocking of the A5 scheme through legal challenges needs to stop. Too many lives have been lost and too much is at stake.”
“Anyone who was here that day and saw those young people in the Great Hall holding crosses that bore the names of the people who have been killed on the road over the past 20 years knows that it was a very profound and sad sight. It was a wake-up call for anyone who might have been uncertain about whether the road upgrade was important. <BR /> <BR />It is also important that people who are affected by the upgrade have their voices heard. I and other Members attended a meeting in Omagh last October, at which we heard some very strong representations from people who are affected by the road upgrade. It is right that they should have their voices heard and, no doubt, the Minister will address that in her remarks.”
“I remember being at a public meeting at which it was said that every single one of those entrances and exits is an accident waiting to happen. That really dangerous interface between local traffic, with people going to the shops, taking their kids to school, going to Mass or travelling to a farm or whatever, and strategic traffic that is passing through is a recipe for disaster that has, unfortunately, resulted in a lot of deaths on that road. <BR /> <BR />Last September, I hosted guests from St Ciaran's College in the Building. Kamile, a former pupil of the college, and her friend Jamie had been killed on the road earlier in that year. It was the day of the school's retreat to Ballintoy, but the pupils decided to spend the day here in order to lobby the Infrastructure Minister about the road upgrade.”
“I thank Tom Buchanan for securing this important Adjournment debate. As has been stated repeatedly this evening, the project was agreed in 2006, nearly 20 years ago. Sadly, since then, more than 50 lives have been lost on the road. I cannot imagine what it is like for someone to have a child, a relative or a friend killed on the road. I live in the area and have two teenage children who are out on the road, and my heart does be in my mouth. You dread getting that call late at night. I cannot imagine what it is like for families who are in that situation. <BR /> <BR />Too many lives have been lost. The road is not fit for purpose. Daniel hit on it: the road has something like 1,200 entrances and exits.”
“Minister, you will appreciate that TB has a serious economic impact on farms and a serious emotional impact on farmers. Somewhere in the region of 20,000 cattle each year have to be culled as a result of that desperate disease. From looking at the TB plan, we are talking about it being eight or more years before we start to tackle the wildlife intervention piece. Do you understand why you might stand accused of kicking the can down the road?”
“I welcome the Minister's response, and I also welcome the fact that he took the time to come to Carrickmore. You know, Minister, that it is a vast rural area, which brings a lot of issues to do with isolation and accessibility. Minister, the questions that people ask me are these: what are the next steps, and what is the timeline for when we might see capital investment and, hopefully, a new-build health centre in Carrickmore?”