Andrew Muir
North Down · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. As Minister, I am grateful to the Chair of the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee and to Members from all sides of the Chamber for their consideration of the Bill and their contributions to the debate, which have been valuable and useful.”
“I will write to you with regard to your query. <BR /> <BR />The other issue, as I said, is reporting pollution incidents so that they can be effectively investigated. There is a duty on everyone to do that promptly.”
“Aquaculture provides real economic opportunities, and the Bill will help ensure that those opportunities are realised responsibly without compromising the environment. Importantly, the Bill includes transitional provisions so that existing licences can continue seamlessly as aquaculture licences, with their conditions unchanged.”
“That is not about being punitive for its own sake; it is about ensuring that the legal framework reflects the true value of our natural resources and the importance of protecting them for future generations.”
“<BR /> <BR />On strengthening the regulation of inland waters, the Bill modernises long-standing powers under the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966, ensuring that they are fit for today's environmental and industry challenges. That matters because fisheries management today goes far beyond simply catching fish.”
“<BR /> <BR />A full regulatory impact assessment of the financial impact has been completed. It concluded that the Bill does not introduce significant new financial burdens and that any costs are outweighed by the long-term benefits.”
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“The proposals contained in the Order have been subject to extensive local and UK-wide stakeholder engagement dating back to 2022, when they were first proposed, through a wide-ranging consultation on developing the UK ETS and, more recently, a consultation specifically on expanding the scope of the UK ETS to include emissions from domestic maritime voyages. <BR /> <BR />The domestic maritime sector is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. We are conscious of the need to address that. It is envisaged that including domestic maritime emissions within the scope of the UK ETS will help overcome a key barrier in the decarbonisation of the sector, which is that the current prices of maritime fuels do not reflect their environmental costs.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I am grateful for the opportunity to bring the motion to the House. I do not propose to cover in detail the background and operation of the UK emissions trading scheme (ETS). However, I am happy to address any clarification questions that Members may have. <BR /> <BR />Members and, in particular, members of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs have engaged positively with my Department on the emissions trading scheme. There is good understanding across the Chamber of the importance of the UK-wide decarbonisation scheme to our Northern Ireland and wider UK climate targets.”
“When I spoke on this in the Assembly last Tuesday, I outlined the eight key actions that we need to take to address waste water pollution, not just in Belfast lough but elsewhere. Those actions are to legislate for stronger fines and penalties; review the sentences handed down for environmental crimes; end the bye ball that was wrongly given to Northern Ireland Water; step in to make that special identification in Belfast lough; review and put in place new standards for discharge consents; improve the monitoring and recording of Northern Ireland Water's activities; clarify the impact of price control 21 (PC21) being underfunded; and set up an independent environmental protection agency. The situation with waste water pollution in our waterways is of grave concern to me, and it is important that we take action in response to it.”
“Over time, that should help to achieve the environmental objectives for the shellfish water protected area.”
“Thank you. My first go-to is our statutory obligations on the environment. My Department has a statutory responsibility under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007, which set out measures to reduce the pollution of freshwater and coastal waters by domestic sewage and industrial waste water. Identification of the Belfast lough shellfish water protected area as a sensitive area under the 2007 regulations is vital because of the need to reverse the downward trend in water quality in Belfast lough. Once the Executive support me in making the identification, which they hopefully will, waste water treatment works that are discharging into the sensitive area and its catchment will be required to provide enhanced treatment of waste water.”
“I share those concerns. I have been clear about the issue. I was also clear on 11 July last year. As Minister, I pleaded with people to not light the bonfire, stating that there were many ways to celebrate but not at that site. Dr Alan Stout said that people should not attend the bonfire and should not be near the site. I was astounded when the Grand Secretary of the Orange Order then said that people should go and enjoy themselves at the bonfire. As we enter spring, when some look to start preparing for the Eleventh night, I urge representatives to give the leadership that is needed to chart a different and better course and make sure that illegal and unsafe bonfires are consigned to the past.”
“As Minister, I urge local elected representatives to provide the leadership that is needed to ensure that everyone obeys the law and heeds the warnings that have been issued to keep people off the site. <BR /> <BR />The Northern Ireland Environment Agency previously confirmed that a consultant assessing the Meridi Street site had detected the presence of asbestos, despite efforts by the landowner to remediate the site. Full remediation of places such as the site at Meridi Street, where the Sloan Molyneaux factory once existed, could take two years. Whilst the risk is low if the remaining asbestos is undisturbed, ongoing trespassing there will make any further remediation work extremely difficult. As the site is privately owned, it remains the landowner's responsibility to remove all asbestos material.”
“As the Member will be aware, that matter is subject to litigation. There is also an ongoing environmental crime investigation, so I am limited in what I can say. I reiterate that I am deeply concerned that, despite warning signage having been erected and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency urging people to stay away from the Meridi Street site, it appears that people have entered the site and that pallets have been deposited there. Unauthorised access to the site could amount to a criminal offence. Given the ongoing risk to the safety of people accessing the site, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency again urges members of the public not to access the site under any circumstances.”
“The request to visit the AFBI farm at Hillsborough has been received and is for AFBI to consider. I do not need to go with you, because I do not need to hold your hand.”
“AFBI has also confirmed that it requested an independent inspection of the site by Red Tractor, which provides accreditation for farm standards. That was carried out and the accreditation status was maintained. The AFBI board chair has also assured me that the board and the executive management team have taken the issues that have been raised very seriously and fully looked into them and that they will continue to keep the matter under review. <BR /> <BR />The issue was considered in detail at the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee last week and previously, and it is important and right that responses were given to the Committee.”
“My Department takes those types of allegations extremely seriously, and it promptly initiated inspections of the site when they were raised with us by an MLA and a GB News journalist in October. An animal-welfare inspection by my veterinary service and animal health group identified no major concerns. An inspection by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency found a low-severity pollution incident regarding sewage fungus in a waterway below the farm, which AFBI has taken action to address. Ongoing monitoring of that continues. I was reassured by the findings of the inspections that were undertaken by my officials. <BR /> <BR />When photos and footage were received, they were reviewed by my officials and sent to AFBI. AFBI subsequently provided detailed explanations of what the footage showed. My officials have also considered those.”
“Failure to support the legislation tomorrow will make it difficult to proceed with that work and will have a wider impact across the UK.”
“The Assembly will be aware that negotiations have commenced between the UK Government and the EU with a view to establishing a link between the respective emissions trading schemes as soon as is feasible. That should provide the conditions for mutual exemptions from the EU and proposed UK carbon border adjustment mechanisms (CBAMs), which we know local businesses support and want. The common understanding, published following the UK-EU summit on 19 May of last year, stated that the sectors that fall within the scope of an ETS link should include, amongst others, the domestic and international maritime sector. <BR /> <BR />It is important that we understand the consequences of not agreeing the legislation tomorrow. There is strong demand from businesses for me to link the EU and UK ETS systems and address the issue of the CBAM.”
“That measure will also limit cost exposure to Northern Ireland consumers. <BR /> <BR />In response to previous contributions that were incorrect, I want to clarify that the ferry that operates between Ballycastle and Rathlin will be exempt from the UK ETS. In response to claims that the industry was not ready, I say that consultation has been ongoing since 2022. The facility for maritime operators to register their details with the UK ETS authority has been available since 2 December of last year. Detailed guidance is available for those who wish to do that. Over 200 operators have already registered.”
“Following extensive consultation since 2022, domestic maritime emissions will be included in the scope of the UK emissions trading scheme from 1 July of this year. I will be leading a debate tomorrow on legislation that will provide for that. A full impact assessment was undertaken on the policy detail associated with that development, which included consideration of the potential impacts on Northern Ireland. That concluded that the expansion of the scheme to the sector should have only negligible cost impacts. On the expansion to the maritime sector, my officials have listened carefully to stakeholders. My Department has secured an interim 50% exemption for voyages between GB and Northern Ireland to ensure parity of carbon pricing with voyages between Ireland and GB, which are subject to the EU ETS.”
“Thank you, Stewart. The emissions trading scheme (ETS) is one of the most effective emissions reduction policies in that it encourages decarbonisation whilst most cost-effective to do so. Operators can choose to decarbonise or to pay for carbon emissions. Since 2005, the ETS has seen a 55% reduction in trader-sector emissions in Northern Ireland.”
“I outlined actions around the planning improvement plan. I did not reference any consultations; I spoke about concrete actions that we are taking through the planning improvement plan. I am happy to meet the Opposition to discuss the wider environmental issues and take you through the environmental situation that we face. I have to meet legal obligations with regard to that. I am happy to schedule any such engagement for this week if you so wish. I hope that, as a result of that engagement, you will have a greater understanding of the environmental challenges that we face in Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />Further short-term deliverables are planned between now and June 2027, including the implementation of a risk-based approach to the provision of advice; implementation of a caseload prioritisation model based on evidence; review of the environmental advice for planning from councils so that it is more easily accessible; use of digital tools to improve customer service; stronger stakeholder engagement; new, streamlined reports and planning performance statistics; implementation of new streamlined processes; and review of the website. There is lots to do. I do not underestimate the environmental challenges. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency has a statutory role to provide planning consultation advice that is in line with the law.”
“A number of actions have already been completed, including putting a new governance structure in place. There is an action plan in place for each work strand associated with that. There is a prioritisation pilot in place for councils to take forward five cases at a time as a priority. There is a review of data and reporting around that, and there is engagement with DFI and the planning authorities.”
“That issue was discussed most recently at the AERA Committee last week, and that was constructive. As I have previously set out and will repeat today, there are two issues at hand. First, we have an environmental crisis in Northern Ireland. Our land is saturated by ammonia, and we have a water quality issue. We must separate that as one issue that needs to be addressed. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency receives planning applications as a statutory consultee, and, yes, it returns some of those in the negative because of wider environmental issues that we need to address. I have always been open and honest about that. <BR /> <BR />The second issue is the resourcing and response times of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency as a statutory consultee. As I have set out previously, there is a planning improvement plan in place.”
“I have been very clear that I support the establishment of an independent environmental protection agency. I want to make sure that that is done. I commissioned an independent expert panel to look at the matter, and it came back with clear recommendations. I brought a paper to the Executive to seek agreement on the issue, but it is clear from my engagement with the DUP that it does not wish to proceed on that, as the paper has been blocked. That is wrong. <BR /> <BR />The institutions to be reformed. The will of the vast majority in the Assembly was indicated in November 2025: that should be respected, and we should be allowed to proceed. There was a commitment in 'New Decade, New Approach', and all parties should respect that. The UK Government have a specific role in relation to the reform of the institutions.”
“That is the mechanism that we will use for drafting legislation, rather than a ministerial direction, which is used largely for financial issues.”
“A ministerial direction is issued only in a circumstance in which a Minister instructs officials to take a course of action that would bring the principal accounting officer into conflict with the personal responsibilities that they carry, responsibilities that, I know, the Assembly expects them to uphold. As the Member will be aware, any ministerial direction also requires the approval of the Finance Minister or the Executive before it can be implemented. I have not asked my principal accounting officer to breach those responsibilities, so the issue of a ministerial direction does not arise. Executive agreement is required in order to proceed. Executive agreement is also required to commission the Office of the Legislative Counsel (OLC) to draft legislation.”
“My Department will continue to pursue confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 against the defendants, with the intention of depriving them of the benefit generated from criminal conduct and asserting the "polluter pays principle". The legal process is under consideration, so I do not want to say anything more, but I am conscious of the question that the Member asked.”
“The consultation responses will be published on the DAERA website. I am happy to engage with local elected representatives on further steps. Our engagement on the previous consultation was useful. It was constructive and allowed all voices to be heard. The public were able to engage on a complex and concerning situation that has developed at the site over a number of years. I am happy to consider what more we can do, and my officials are keen to engage with local representatives as well.”
“We will publish the responses to the consultation. I have been engaging with officials, including today, on the revised strategy, taking into account the feedback that has been received. The revised strategy should be with me next month. I will then consider it, and that will determine any Budget bids. Once we have a revised strategy in place, that will determine the financial requirements for remediation of the site. <BR /> <BR />I make it clear that engagement through the consultation and with elected representatives for the area is key. I enjoyed the engagement that we had when we met last year. I thought that it was constructive and robust, and I want to be able to sit down with them again to chart a course. Funding for the monitoring is in place, and it is important that I reassure Members that that is ongoing.”
“The two consultation events were attended by 110 people, and 26 written responses were received in total. All responses are now being carefully considered, and the integrated consultancy team appointed by the Department has completed a comprehensive technical evaluation of them. <BR /> <BR />The Northern Ireland Environment Agency plans to publish the summary report on responses to the consultation on the draft remediation strategy for the Mobuoy site later this week, and I am keen to meet Foyle MLAs, local MPs and the mayor and chief executive of Derry City and Strabane District Council soon to follow up on our meeting from September.”
“<BR /> <BR />Consultation on the draft strategy was undertaken to ensure that stakeholders, technical specialists, community groups and members of the public had the opportunity to review and comment on the proposed technical approach for addressing the environmental challenges presented at the Mobuoy site.”
“Safeguarding public health, ensuring safe drinking water and reducing the environmental impact of the Mobuoy site are of paramount importance to my Department and me. To that end, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency continues to implement a comprehensive environmental monitoring programme at the site and plan for remediation. The draft remediation strategy for the Mobuoy site has been developed to mitigate the long-term risk that the contaminated site poses to water quality in the River Faughan and to address the contamination of the Faughan groundwater body.”
“As far as I am concerned, nobody is above the law in regard to that. If you have footage of that, I ask you to share it with the Department so that it can be fully investigated.”
“It is a positive initiative. Ulster Wildlife is doing good work, and we are reliant on it to do that work. Alongside those nature-based solutions for water quality in Belfast lough, we need stronger regulation and enforcement on sewage pollution. I set that out in my oral statement last week. We need to address that. It affects the people around Belfast lough and beyond at Lough Neagh and other waterbodies. We need stronger regulation and enforcement on that. Later today, I will meet the Infrastructure Minister on the wider issue of sewage pollution.”
“<BR /> <BR />My Department has also established the marine nature recovery oversight group, comprising industry, environmental NGOs, academia and council representatives. The group will oversee the implementation of actions to protect and restore Northern Ireland's inshore marine environment.”
“In April 2025, I published Northern Ireland's first blue carbon action plan. The plan outlines the actions required for the next five years to protect and restore our blue-carbon habitats and for their promotion as nature-based solutions for climate action and wider biodiversity. Through the environment fund, my Department has supported pilot projects on native oyster restoration led by Ulster Wildlife in collaboration with Belfast Harbour. What started as oyster nursery cages in Bangor, Belfast harbour, Carrickfergus and Glenarm has now expanded to the first seabed deployment of adult oysters and juveniles in Belfast lough. The oysters will not only improve water quality through filtration but, as adults, will form reefs, helping to provide both coastal defences and vital habitats for juvenile fish and other marine species.”
“I speak with businesses in Northern Ireland, such as Enva and Encirc, that would like to be able to use the glass that is being recycled by our households and to have that in the circular economy. However, with that commingling, the quality of the recovery is reduced.”
“When it comes to the performance and delivery of any council, it is for councillors to hold their officials to account. In Northern Ireland, we have legal targets for recycling. It is important that we meet those targets. We are also conscious of the issues. The issues of residual waste and shipping that away and the problems that that has been causing for residents in areas such as Warrenpoint are raised with me in the Chamber regularly. It is important that we address that. In addition, we have the £50 million of additional money that is coming through councils to help them to improve their recycling infrastructure. As I have set out, it is not just about quantity but about quality. If waste is commingling, there is an issue there with the quality of the recyclate.”
“Alongside that, businesses should be doing the same as households, and I am seeking to give guidance on that.”
“We need to take cognisance of the fact that commingling glass, paper and card can reduce the quality of recycling. <BR /> <BR />In addition, councils in Northern Ireland are receiving approximately £50 million in additional funding through the extended producer responsibility scheme and are supported through the DAERA household waste recycling collaborative change programme. It is important that they are able to use that funding to increase the quality and quantity of recycling. It is also important that we are conscious that the average residual waste collected by councils contains approximately 28% food waste, 10% garden waste and 18% dry recycling. There is more that we can do so that people are aware of what should and should not go into residual waste.”
“I sent an Executive paper to my colleagues last summer, and I continue to engage with them so that I can publish that. There is a real need for us to build on our success in recycling. That has plateaued in recent years, but we are sitting at around 50% in terms of households. That is a real achievement, but there is more that we can do. I seek to issue guidance to councils on recycling. For example, in Ards and North Down, paper, card and plastic are collected in one bin and there is a separate kerbside glass collection. That delivers good-quality recycling and a good quantity. That is the kind of thing that I am looking at when it comes to giving guidance to councils. It is guidance, so they can decide what they want to do, but it is important that the Department issues guidance on this.”
“<BR /> <BR />My Department's previous consultation on recycling and waste collection reforms included proposals on driving down the volume of residual waste and improving both the quality and quantity of material being collected for recycling. As Minister, I continue to seek support from my Executive colleagues for the publication of the departmental response, which would provide the clarity that councils and businesses are asking for as they proceed to make investment decisions and align with our ambitions to boost the local reprocessing industry, create new local job opportunities and enhance our local circular economy.”
“Recycling offers many benefits to our local economy. It supports our circular economy, keeps materials in use, reduces reliance on raw virgin materials and provides opportunities for companies to handle, process and reuse materials. However, those recycling benefits can only be realised if we accept that the quality of the recyclate is as important as the quantity, and quality relies on reducing contamination through the separate collection of some core materials. Good-quality recyclate can be reprocessed locally, keeping economic value in Northern Ireland. The high level of waste exports makes our waste someone else's problem and goes against the principles of proximity and self-sufficiency, whilst also undermining our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint. It also represents lost economic opportunities for Northern Ireland.”
“Thank you. Robin did good work on this, and it is important that we are able to take this forward. <BR /> <BR />When it comes to the regulation of the rescue and rehoming sector, officials are undertaking further policy development, looking at impact assessments and doing policy analysis. I am due to receive a submission on the final policy position for consideration and clearance very soon, and, subject to ministerial agreement, there will be engagement with the rescue and rehoming sector and with councils on content and direction. Thereafter, there will be a consultation. It is a complex area, and I thank officials for the work that they are doing. Hopefully, we will be able to consult on this in the time ahead.”
“In tandem with that, my officials are preparing to secure necessary approvals for the legislation as soon as reasonably practical.”
“Thank you, Paula. The legislation has been drafted and is being reviewed in conjunction with the Departmental Solicitor's Office (DSO). It is a complex policy that is specifically designed for Northern Ireland, and it is crucial that councils with responsibility for enforcement are given the chance to provide further feedback on the implementation of the proposals. Therefore, the focus is now on engaging with councils to discuss implementation. I recognise that councils require time to prepare and, in particular, set up the necessary IT systems to deliver the public register. My officials meet regularly with councils. However, a dedicated implementation group is being established to determine appropriate timelines for introducing the legislation to ensure that the councils are ready.”
“<BR /> <BR />Beyond that, I am actively considering further reforms contained in the pathway, including on dog licence fees, the banning of certain aversive training devices and the regulation of rescue and rehoming organisations. Those important measures will be brought together in an upcoming combined consultation that will also include a call for evidence on mandatory cat microchipping and proposals to improve current microchipping requirements for dogs. Progress is also being made on legislation to require CCTV in all slaughterhouses. That legislation is advancing through the necessary approval stages and will be introduced as soon as possible. <BR /> <BR />I am pleased that tangible progress is being made. I am determined to deliver lasting improvements to animal welfare across Northern Ireland in the time remaining in the mandate.”
“As Minister, I am delighted to have recently published the consultation responses on and way forward for the sale and supply of puppies and kittens. That marks a significant milestone in my ongoing efforts to strengthen animal welfare protections in Northern Ireland. Working in partnership with councils, officials are progressing next steps to finalise and enact robust new legislation at the earliest opportunity. <BR /> <BR />One of my other priorities is dog breeding. I keenly await the expert advisory group's final report, which is due next month. The group was tasked with undertaking a comprehensive review of current dog-breeding regulations, and I am eager to examine its recommendations. I am fully committed to taking meaningful action, where possible, in the remainder of the mandate.”
“Thank you. The issue that the Member has outlined properly sits with the Department of Health, because the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service sits in that Department. However, I say, "Thank you" to the range of stakeholders that work with us on the issue. Their contributions are invaluable. Stakeholder engagement is the basis of our wildfire interventions. <BR /> <BR />The weather has improved in recent days. That is good to see, particularly after the wet weather that our farmers have had to endure. My concerns now turn to wildfires. It is important that I reiterate the messages on appropriate behaviour in the countryside so that we do not see the scenes occurring this year that we saw last year.”
“Yes, I do. Our farming community can play a fantastic role in that through better upland management. That is why we continue to roll out Farming with Nature. This year, we will expand the current transition scheme and provide additional measures that will be based on priority habitats and species. We will also issue a call for projects to deliver improved environmental outcomes through landscape-scale collaboration. Farming with Nature is a key component of our wildfire management, and it is important that, as a Department, we work with stakeholders to see that rolled out.”
“<BR /> <BR />In addition to that, it is important that I emphasise the messages that my Department has previously communicated about what is and is not appropriate in the countryside. I continue to urge those who have been maliciously and deliberately lighting wildfires to stop. No one should start a fire in the countryside unless it is part of a specific, planned and properly managed land management practice.”
“My Department has appointed a consortium of international wildfire experts, led by the Pau Costa Foundation, to deliver a suite of wildfire mitigation work across Northern Ireland. The multi-year project primarily seeks to identify the wildfire risk and develop wildfire management recommendations and response plans for three designated landscapes: the eastern Mourne area of special scientific interest (ASSI) and special area of conservation (SAC); the Antrim Hills special protection area (SPA); and the Carn/Glenshane SAC. The project will engage local landowners and wildfire stakeholders to help gather evidence on the mitigation measures that need to be developed. I encourage all those who are approached by the project team to participate.”
“In preparation for the current wildfire season, the following works have been undertaken: Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) held a stakeholder familiarisation event during November 2025; the Fire and Rescue Service and Forest Service had a pre-wildfire season meeting on Friday 6 March 2026; the Northern Ireland Environment Agency's (NIEA) all-terrain vehicles have been repaired or scheduled for service in the period ahead to ensure that they are available for wildfire incidents in 2026; pre-fire season communications are in development; and restoration works such as those in the Mournes continue to be supported.”