Robbie Butler
Lagan Valley · Ulster Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Officials highlighted that alignment was provided through existing EU-derived arrangements and that coherence with existing regulatory frameworks was identified as a main consideration.”
“I note that the Member for Strangford agrees: she understands the value of our fisheries in those areas. There are other complexities. The Isle of Man Government have now done a bit of a circle around that island, which makes it difficult for our fishers from Portavogie, Kilkeel and Portaferry to craft and graft a living from some of the…”
“The Committee took the opportunity to question officials on several issues and highlight matters warranting scrutiny at Committee Stage but was not limited to those areas.”
“As the Minister said, they have possibly been viewed as competing demands, but they are not competing demands, because clean water is part of sustainable food production.”
“<BR /> <BR />I am glad to see language in the Bill on the sustainability of the aquaculture sector, and I want to lean in a bit on that. Aquaculture pastimes have, perhaps, been underutilised, whether they relate to the angling fraternity or other river and water users.”
“Today, I want to talk about a very talented young girl from Lisburn called Freya Terris. Freya, who is 17 years old, attends Friends' School and studies the piano under former Lisburn resident Rory Dowse. Freya is an incredibly accomplished young pianist and has performed in the Ulster Hall.”
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“I bring to the attention of the House a service of remembrance that was held yesterday in St John's Church of Ireland in Moneymore called 'Life Beyond'. I think that it was the third such ecumenical service. It is run by Rural Support and Embrace FARM. The purpose of the service is to remember farmers who have died by accident whilst farming and those affected by mental health and, unfortunately, death by suicide on farms. <BR /> <BR />I was excited when I became Chair of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs six months ago, because agriculture is so fundamentally important to everyone across Northern Ireland. We rightly hold up our agrisector and our farmers as some of the best in the world. We produce some of the best food in the world. We eat it and export it, but we do not shout about it enough.”
“I associate myself with the comments that have been made across the House. Holding any Minister's feet to the fire should never descend into personal attack, particularly around sexual orientation, so the Minister has my full solidarity on that matter. <BR /> <BR />Minister, I will hold your feet to the fire, however. There is a disconnect between the Department, you and the farming community. I have heard the statement "Nothing about us without us": what will you do to restore confidence among the farming community that any future development of the NAP will have that community's voice at the centre of it? The farming community will be key to delivering clear and clean water and will be our environmental champions.”
“<BR /> <BR />Environmental and climate goals are rightly ambitious, and I touched on some of those when speaking as Committee Chair. Current funding shortfalls, however, risk turning ambition into broken promises. Our farmers are being asked to do more with less, particularly in the wake of the damaging cuts to rural support that followed Brexit. It is not just about numbers but about livelihoods, heritage and food security. <BR /> <BR />We need certainty, not scraps from the monitoring round table. The competing demands across our services and sectors require more than ad hoc solutions. We need a realistic UK comprehensive spending review, mature conversations about revenue raising and a shared commitment to building back pride in a Northern Ireland plc that delivers the political stability and the ambition that our people deserve.”
“That is coupled with the failure to have a Government here for 11 years out of the past 25. That has meant that we have never built up a head of steam. We also do not have the political legacy to provide our beleaguered constituents with absolute confidence. <BR /> <BR />Those concerns create a potent and deep instability for our farming and agri-food sector at a time of immense pressure for it. The sector faces a toxic mix of the spiralling cost of bovine tuberculosis, the estimated cost of which is around £60 million in this year alone; delays in a moribund planning system; and uncertainty over the nutrients action programme (NAP) proposals. If we add to those the ongoing confusion about inheritance tax reform for family farms and the looming threat of tariffs, we have an arena that is marked by real financial anxiety.”
“Thank you very much, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I appreciate that. I can confirm to the Member that the Committee is interested in efficiencies, as all Committees should be. We have put a series of questions to the Department about the different departmental functions, including staffing, recruitment and vacancies that either need or do not need to be filled. The Civil Service and each Department should be in a constant state of review and improvement. <BR /> <BR />From my and my party's perspective, I will raise a concern about over-reliance on in-year monitoring rounds as a method of budget management. The Member for North Antrim is, however, right to suggest that every Department comes in slightly under budget, but some Departments are affected to a greater extent than others, with DAERA being one.”
“in the Programme for Government, but it remains a concern of the Committee to hear that the Minister is relying on June monitoring and subsequent monitoring rounds to meet statutory and contractual elements. <BR /> <BR />It is an understatement to say that there are financially challenging times ahead. With the Programme for Government, however, there is now an overarching framework to support and scrutinise the Minister's spending decisions. I will finish the Committee's comments there and add a few of my own, if that is OK.”
“As I stated in the debate on the final Budget, the Committee was pleased to hear that there is to be an agreed indicative Executive-earmarked resource DEL allocation to DAERA in June monitoring of around £1·4 million for employers' National Insurance contributions and £5 million for Lough Neagh, which aligns with the priority:”
“The Committee is pleased to see an increase in net resources for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) from provision of around £34 million in 2024-25 to around £44·5 million for 2025-26. The Committee has been calling for additional resources for the NIEA to improve planning application times, efficiencies and investigations. The NIEA will be aware that it has received emails from many Members about those issues. <BR /> <BR />What does all of that mean in practice? It does not matter what the allocation is, if it does not meet the need. We know that this is an extremely difficult outcome for the Department, and we will hear from officials on Thursday about the June monitoring round bids for resource and capital.”
“The capital budget is up slightly, at around £10 million compared with around £8·5 million in the previous year. The Committee has heard about the need to redevelop the aquaculture sector to get it back to where it was over a decade ago and about the difficulties that the fishing industry faces on a number of fronts, but the situation will not be helped by this Budget.”
“It is of huge concern to see the resource budget for environment, marine and fisheries with a net resource of around £32 million compared with previous provision of around £66 million in 2024-25. Again, that figure was £8 million lower than the year before.”
“The budget will not support the Minister in that regard, particularly in the payment of bovine tuberculosis statutory compensation. He will again rely on monitoring rounds to fund that and other statutory duties. <BR /> <BR />The resource allocation for rural affairs is around £16 million, slightly up on last year's provision of £15 million for 2024-25, and capital is much lower at around £1·2 million compared with provision of over £7 million for 2024-25. The impact of the loss of EU funding in that area is still being felt, and the overall of lack of funding and lack of multi-year budgets has been flagged to the Committee by rural groups on a number of occasions as hugely problematic for the services that they deliver.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will now focus on some of the subheading detail under the total net budget. Food and farming allocations are lower at this stage, with around £439 million net resource compared with provision of £450 million last year. For capital, there is an increase to around £79 million compared with provision of almost £62 million last year. <BR /> <BR />For veterinary and animal health, we are seeing a consistent downward trajectory, with net resources at around £81 million for 2025-26 compared with provisions of around £113 million in 2024-25, which was already £20 million lower than 2023-24. The Committee has heard of the increase in bovine tuberculosis, the difficulties in vet recruitment and the need to monitor other animal health diseases, such as avian flu and sheep scab, and to improve animal welfare generally.”
“That was unfortunate, but the Committee recognises that the final budget remains an extremely difficult outcome for DAERA. <BR /> <BR />On 5 June, the Committee will discuss with officials the bids for June monitoring to determine the extent of the pressures, which I will return to later in my remarks. The Committee has held a number of meetings with the Minister and DAERA officials on the budgetary pressures of 2024-25 and those of 2025-26. I highlighted a range of those across DAERA's remit in the Chamber on 19 May, and I will not return to that. The Committee remains concerned about the disparity between the resource DEL bids and the allocations for specific statutory functions and projects, ranging from as little as one sixth to around one half of what was bid for.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on behalf of the AERA Committee on the Supply resolution for the Main Estimates 2025-26 as relevant to DAERA. <BR /> <BR />Looking at the overall picture for 2025-26 compared with the previous year, I see that DAERA has £630·7 million resource DEL, which is a £21·7 million increase on this point in 2024-25. The total net capital budget is £119·5 million compared with around £97·5 million for 2024-25. However, as with last year, those allocations do not cover what is needed and what was bid for by DAERA. For example, on capital DEL, the allocation is £119·5 million, which is £7·1 million less than DAERA's £126·6 million inescapable and high-priority bids. Therefore, we support the Minister and agreed that he make an opening overcommitment of £15 million on the capital allocation.”
“The Member will know that I have absolutely no issue with and totally respect the fact that we have differing constitutional priorities and visions. However, the Belfast Agreement is absolutely clear that it is about respect, and it is not about a single, unilateral direction. Today, we are speaking about the motion, and its last two sentences literally take any other avenue off the table and out of the discussion and fundamentally say that there is only one route to achieving the desires of the party. <BR /> <BR />I will conclude my comments. I urge the House to reject the motion and the amendment.”
“Instead, the motion attempts to retroactively define Brexit as a national error whilst glossing over the contradictions in its argument. Members, you cannot celebrate dual access and simultaneously advocate for its elimination. You cannot claim to respect the Belfast Agreement while using it to advance a single, unilateral constitutional vision. You cannot reduce democratic complexity to a binary narrative of historic self-harm versus salvation through Brussels.”
“That is not friction reduction; it is friction redirection. <BR /> <BR />Then there is the consent issue that is at the centre of the Belfast Agreement. The agreement was designed to ensure that both communities had a say in their future and that no change to Northern Ireland's status could come without majority consent, but the motion does not read like an invitation for dialogue. It reads like a declaration of intent: a future in Europe and, by implication, outside the United Kingdom is framed not as one of many options but as an inevitability, and that does not reflect the spirit of partnership or balance that was promised in 1998 by a co-author along with us. It is quite strange but not that surprising these days. <BR /> <BR />The Assembly should be focused on stability, prosperity and a pragmatic sense of cooperation.”
“Then, with the same breath, it claims that our best long-term future can be secured only by leaving the UK altogether and fully joining the EU. Which is it? Is the dual market access under the current arrangements an opportunity to be maximised, or is it a stopgap en route to something else? We need to wake up and smell the coffee. You cannot credibly claim that you want to capitalise on Northern Ireland's unique trading position whilst arguing that the only real solution is to scrap it and start again. It is a political bait-and-switch, using the economic argument to smuggle in a constitutional one. <BR /> <BR />The motion also claims to support the reduction of trade friction, yet champions an outcome — rejoining the EU — that would almost certainly increase friction with our largest market, Great Britain.”
“In the first three or four lines, it welcomes reduced trade friction, heralds dual market access, which has been a mantra for the SDLP and Alliance for some time, and talks about pragmatic cooperation with the EU. However, when you scratch the surface, it quickly becomes clear that it is not about practical governance but political positioning and, more worryingly, an attempt to reframe every recent development as a stepping stone towards a predetermined destination, which is EU re-entry through Irish unity. <BR /> <BR />Let us begin with the core contradiction at the heart of the motion. It praises dual market access as a "competitive advantage" for Northern Ireland, something that the SDLP and Alliance have spent years highlighting, and some would argue rightly so.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. Having read the motion and the amendment, I found that the motion contained four obvious tenets. One was the inarguable realism as it started out, and then there was the arguable perspective on some of the fallout of Brexit and the protocol. That was followed by its inarguable contradictions and reframing of the constitutional debate. For those reasons, we will not support the motion. We will not support the amendment either, even if Alliance portray it as being helpful, because that would be tantamount to treating national referendums as hokey-cokeys. <BR /> <BR />In reality, however, the motion is riddled with contradictions, half-truths and a selective reading of our recent history and our current political realities. At first glance, it appears to be balanced.”
“We urge the Infrastructure Minister to urgently begin the review and do all that she can in this mandate to make the necessary changes. <BR /> <BR />When we have debates on immigration, we really need to detoxify the space and allow each other to talk about the issues that impact on people. We need to deal with strangers to this land in a humanitarian way. Let us become a bit more mature about a very important topic.”
“When the only option for some is to share a converted terrace house with five strangers, something is badly wrong. <BR /> <BR />Other parts of the UK have acted. In England, councils use article 4 directions to control the spread of HMOs. In Scotland, restrictions are in place in high-pressure areas. Those approaches are backed by robust planning policies. People in our communities feel powerless to oppose HMOs, because, in contrast, while councils in Northern Ireland do their best with licensing, they lack the planning powers and clear guidance to manage the issues effectively. That is why the Ulster Unionist Party supports the motion. We need the strategic planning policy statement to be reviewed and strengthened so that councils can make decisions based on local needs, not abstract regulations.”
“One of the most visible symptoms of the housing crisis is the rise in HMOs. Increasing numbers of properties are being converted into shared accommodation. That is not because it is ideal — from my perspective, as a former firefighter, I can tell you that it is worse than far from ideal; it can be downright dangerous — but because people have no other choice, that is where they end up. The unchecked growth in HMOs in certain area has a damaging impact on communities. Local residents often feel unheard and powerless to object, and the fault for that lies with the Home Office and its failure to adequately communicate and bring communities along with it. It speaks to a broken housing system that is failing individuals and families right across our Province.”
“Thank you. On the breakdown of those figures, we have had a geopolitical crisis in that time, during which we have accommodated many people from Ukraine and other war-torn areas. However, the Member should not be dismissed in speaking to uncontrolled immigration, which is a legitimate point to speak to. I said that immigration can and does add pressure, but so, too, have repeated failures of the Executive. <BR /> <BR />The motion's main call is for the review and amendment of:”
“We must never allow honest discussion to slide into hostility. Those who come here to contribute, to work hard and to integrate should feel welcome, not vilified. Anything less is morally and socially unacceptable. That having been said, we cannot ignore the pressures. When public services are already stretched, adding further demand makes things harder. Let us be honest, however: the systems were failing long before now. Long waiting lists, overcrowded schools and a shortage of affordable housing did not appear overnight. I agree with the Alliance Member about the Assembly's failure to sit for five years out of eight, which will have compounded public service problems.”
“<BR /> <BR />There are those who will quickly dismiss any discussion on immigration as intolerant or extreme, but this party will not be accused of that, even though, at one stage, the leader of the Opposition talked about "unionist politics". That is not good enough. Censoring debate helps no one and ignores the real and genuine concerns that people have. Is immigration the number-one issue that comes into my inbox? No, it is not. Is it an issue? Yes, it is. <BR /> <BR />Ignoring the value of controlled, managed migration is equally wrong. Across the world, responsible migration supports economies and fills skills gaps. In Northern Ireland, many of our doctors, nurses and key workers came from overseas and have made a positive and lasting contribution to our society. I am sure that everyone in the Chamber appreciates that.”
“We believe in compassion for those who are fleeing persecution, but that must be balanced by proper controls and a system that works effectively across all parts of the UK, including Northern Ireland. We have seen the cost of accommodating asylum seekers rise to around £400 million, as is mentioned in the motion. That is four times the original estimate. That level of spending is simply not sustainable and must be questioned. While immigration policy is a reserved matter for Westminster, its impact on local services, schools, GP practices and housing pressures is real. No Member from any party has refuted that part of the motion so far.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion. Hopefully, I will not go left or right but speak to the truth and, as the Member for South Belfast said, talk about the topic in a "mature, measured" way. The reality is that people are talking about this topic, whether you take a side or not. It is a debate that should be had. Immigration pressures on public services are a real issue, as is the rise in the number of houses in multiple occupation across Northern Ireland. They present specific difficulties in Northern Ireland, because we do not have the regulation and legislative clout that other parts of the UK have. <BR /> <BR />Let me state clearly that the Ulster Unionist Party supports a firm but fair immigration system.”
“I commend the Minister for what many people rightly consider to be some of the most significant increases in training places in many years. Is he able to give us an indication of just how significant those increases will be, in particular across the AHP programmes?”
“It rightly supports the return of human remains and sacred items in evidence-based cases, but it also warns against the danger of campaigns rooted in blame and revisionism, rather than reconciliation and understanding. Let us empower our museums to act ethically and responsibly, not reactively. Let us support the professionals who work to educate, conserve and connect us with the past, warts and all. <BR /> <BR />I urge all Members to support our amendment. We believe that it is balanced and right and champions dignity where it is due and wisdom where it is needed.”
“Museums are not monuments to empire. Anyone who thinks so needs to visit a museum. They are dynamic institutions that are committed to education, inclusion and public access. Many already engage in difficult discussions. That has been the case in the Chamber. I commend all Members for that today. Museums have difficult conversations about history and empire, and they do so while operating under enormous financial constraints. Their duty is to preserve and interpret history for all, not to rewrite it on the basis of ideological pressure but to present it warts and all — hurt and success. <BR /> <BR />The amendment draws the necessary line.”
“It treats all such items as if they should be removed or returned without considering evidence, context or legality. That is not justice; it is reductionism.”
“It encourages a sweeping approach to decolonisation without drawing lines between sacred and personal artefacts and those of broader cultural significance.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. <BR /> <BR />I urge all Members who have listened to the debate to support the amendment. I do so whilst firmly acknowledging one area where there should be no ambiguity, and that is the repatriation or return of human remains. Let us be clear: holding human remains, especially those taken without consent, in a museum or in a damp bog, is indefensible. Where communities and families request their return and the provenance and justice is clear, that return must be a matter of principle. It is a matter of dignity, respect and basic human decency, and, in such cases, there is no grey area. <BR /> <BR />When we examined the motion, we found a need to amend it. There are some merits, but it goes much too far.”
“I wish them all the very best of luck at the Into Film Awards in London. However, I am sure that we all agree that they are already winners in every sense.”
“They are setting an example not just for other schools across Northern Ireland but for our entire society and are showing what is possible when inclusion, creativity and ambition go hand in hand. <BR /> <BR />The moment also highlights the ongoing need for meaningful post-19 education and opportunities for those young people. Alma White has wonderfully championed that need, and her ambition has led to Caleb's Cause, which campaigns to ensure that no young person is left behind when they leave school and, instead, is supported to live a full and flourishing life. <BR /> <BR />To all those involved in 'Superhero School', I say, "Well done. You have made Belfast and Northern Ireland proud, and, more important, you have shown what you are capable of when you are given the opportunity to shine".”
“Park School is a place of ambition but not solely academic ambition. It has a broader vision of what success looks like for young people with additional needs. The nomination tells the story of a school community that believes in its students, invests in them and supports them to discover and share their voices in the world that we share. <BR /> <BR />Creating a film of that magnitude is no small task. It takes teamwork, storytelling, imagination and courage. Those are qualities that have clearly been fostered through the ethos of Park School. The pride that the students and their families, teachers and classroom assistants must feel is richly deserved.”
“I associate myself with the remarks made by Mrs Dillon about Dementia Action Week. My sister-in-law, who is only in her late 50s, has been impacted by the disease, as has her family. I thank the Member for mentioning the issue. <BR /> <BR />I congratulate Park School in Belfast on its production of 'Superhero School', which has been shortlisted in the "Best Film -12-15" category at the Into Film Awards 2025. The film's creation is a testament to the vision, creativity and determination of the young people who brought the project to life. Their success reflects not only their talent but a nurturing school environment in which each student is encouraged to dream big and reach as high as they can. What makes the achievement so special is that it comes from a school that understands the unique potential in every pupil.”
“There have been no discussions to date on removing the voluntary element of the scheme. Perhaps the Minister will speak to that. <BR /> <BR />At its meeting on 8 May, the Committee considered the final draft SR and heard from officials that, as highlighted by the ESR, the amendments were on technical issues and typos and tightened up the SR, making it more readable and understandable. There were no further queries for the officials, and members agreed to support the SR as drafted pending the ESR's report. That report was issued on Friday, and the draft SR was not drawn to the Assembly's special attention. The Committee agreed to recommend that the Farming with Nature Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 be affirmed and made by the Assembly.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee was due to consider the draft SR at its meeting on 10 April, but the session was postponed after a drafting issue was identified by the Examiner of Statutory Rules (ESR). However, the Committee considered the response that it received from DAERA to its queries on that date. The Department's response stated that, since the outset of the development of a farm policy in 2018 to replace the EU-funded CAP, it has been the intention that environmental farming schemes would form part of a farm support package, and that it was formally named as the Farming with Nature package in 2021. Article 13 of the Farm Sustainability (Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 provides the powers to move funds between the relevant schemes.”
“Furthermore, the Committee asked about the range of stakeholders involved in the co-design, had queries about the voluntary nature of the scheme and asked whether the minimum of three qualifying hectares still applied. The Committee then agreed to write to the Department for clarification on when it was first considered that the Farming with Nature scheme was required to replace the EFS and when work commenced on that scheme, whether the Minister has powers to move funds between the relevant schemes under the Farm Sustainability (Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025, and whether it is the intention that the voluntary element of the scheme will be removed during the course of the mandate.”
“The Committee was advised that the new, simpler scheme would be launched in three phases, starting in 2025, and that, as an annual scheme, it will have a cap, unlike the former environmental farming scheme (EFS), which was over a five-year period. Phase 1 is the Farming with Nature transition scheme, phase 2 is the Farming with Nature landscape projects and phase 3 is the Farming with Nature priority habitats. <BR /> <BR />The Committee had a number of queries for officials. It asked about the key differences between the previous and new schemes. It also asked about the five aspects of phase 1 and was advised that a farmer can select the ones most suitable to the farm business as opposed to all five.”
“The Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs first considered the SL1 for these draft regulations at its meeting on 10 April 2025. The Committee heard from the officials that DAERA intended to make a statutory rule to introduce the Farming with Nature Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 to provide the legal powers to implement the Farming with Nature package as part of the continued roll-out of the sustainable agriculture programme. The Committee heard that the SR would be laid before the Assembly under the draft affirmative procedure, and that the Farming with Nature package will replace the current environmental farming scheme.”
“Thank you, Principal Deputy Speaker. Maybe it is a case of age before beauty, Patsy.”
“Given that Brexit and the Windsor framework were certainly mis-sold, has there been overstatement and hyperbole about this agreement between the UK Government and the EU? Industry experts are now saying that it is tantamount to an agreement to agree, and a lot of the stuff that has been promised has not actually been detailed yet.”
“Added to that, we have a lack of action to address the spiralling bovine tuberculosis crisis, the blunt approach to the NAP proposals, with no identified support or incentives for farmers, and the cumulative threat of damaging trade deals, be they with the US or the EU or the Mercosur deal. Our farming sector is being squeezed from all sides.”
“I will wrap it up pretty quickly, if I can. <BR /> <BR />I highlight the unprecedented pressures that face our agri-food and rural sectors. Whilst the wider Budget implications extend further than our Finance Department, there is no doubt that the most imminent crisis for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs is the future viability of farming families in Northern Ireland and, crucially, food security. We have to be clear that Labour's proposed inheritance tax reforms are draconian and that the risk of fragmentation to family farms is very real.”
“<BR /> <BR />I turn to some brief remarks on behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party.”
“Both the UFU and the YFCU highlighted the lack of engagement with industry on the new aspects of the NAP. Some members expressed concerns that incentives and support for farmers to play their part in improving the environment were lacking, leading to "no carrot, just stick" approaches. <BR /> <BR />It remains to be seen whether the Minister will receive significant allocations in future monitoring rounds. The Committee will continue to support the Minister in seeking additional funds as needed. It is expected that the Chancellor's announcement on 11 June of a comprehensive spending review will cover three years of resource spending and four years of capital spending. That should provide for longer funding periods for organisations, but the lack of multi-year budgets was cited by many rural groups as a significant issue.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee focused on a number of areas of capital allocation: for example, Farming with Nature has a capital allocation of £4·5 million, and the tackling rural poverty and social isolation (TRPSI) framework has been allocated £4 million. We have continued our programme of external meetings and hearing from stakeholders about the impact of the funding shortfalls. <BR /> <BR />At our meeting on 8 May, we held an evidence session with officials on the consultation on the proposals for the nutrients action programme (NAP). We heard at the Balmoral show that farmers are committed to playing their part in improving water quality, but the UFU warned that the proposals fail to reflect the complexity of on-farm decision-making and risk undermining environmental progress and farm viability.”