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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“Plastic and sewage are a bit different, but I am happy to answer the Member's question. <BR /> <BR />What sits with me is regulation and enforcement. A paper will go to the Executive in the next few weeks on how to address the bye ball that NI Water has been given since 2007, when it was unfairly given a special dispensation that other polluters do not have. That needs to be addressed. There is other work in place, which I will outline to the Chamber in the time ahead. The ultimate responsibility for investment in waste water infrastructure and its management sits with the Minister for Infrastructure. We need to be brave and address the issues, because I am acutely aware that not only are they causing harm to our environment but they are affecting housebuilding and economic development in Northern Ireland.”
“The new Government, however, are committed to the scheme, and we are rolling it out. It was good to see the operator of the deposit return scheme at an event last week with Retail NI, engaging with local retailers on the issue.”
“I have spoken briefly to my counterpart in the South about that. There is a desire from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and me to go down South to see the scheme in operation there. One of the key focuses of the deposit return scheme in the UK is that it has to be interoperable with that in the South, which is a key thing that I have been advocating, and I believe that it will be. To be honest, what we have seen in the South is a role model for how we can take forward the scheme in the UK, including Northern Ireland. Staff from the scheme in the South came across to the DRS in the UK and have brought their knowledge with them. It is disappointing that the scheme has not been put in place in the UK sooner, but that is a result of the antics of the previous UK Government on the issue.”
“However, there is more that we should do, because we want to make sure that we are not missing the opportunities from the circular economy.”
“My answer is yes. There is a waste hierarchy, and part of that is about reducing the amount of waste that we produce. There is the extended producer responsibility for packaging scheme: that is being brought in across the UK and will, hopefully, incentivise a reduction in the amount of packaging. Furthermore, a scheme is coming into place in October next year. It has been in place down South since February 2024. It is the deposit return scheme, which will encourage people to bring back their bottles, and they will get money for that. It has proven to be very popular down South and in other parts of Europe. I believe that it will be popular here in the North as well. <BR /> <BR />There is lots that we are doing around this.”
“That is an important issue, and it is important that councils do all that they can to find a way to reduce the amount of waste that is going to landfill or for incineration. While my officials have been engaging on the matter, one of the key issues is the role that councils can play. Councils have an additional amount of approximately £50 million in extended producer responsibility for packaging money that they can use to improve their ways to recycle. One of the ways in which to improve recycling and reduce waste management is through what the Member has outlined. Officials will continue to engage, but, ultimately, it is for councils to take that forward. It would be good if I could publish the previous departmental response, which set out the proposed way forward.”
“Thank you, Connie. The carrier bag levy is an example of behavioural change bringing about a positive impact for our environment, with the most recent statistics showing a decrease of almost 6 million bags per annum over a two-year period. The revenue raised helps to support the environment fund. It has delivered a number of projects including Eco-Schools, which engage with young people to further influence positive behaviours and enhance their appreciation of our environment. Both you and I have enjoyed meeting those Eco-Schools. Similarly, the levy also directly funds the Lyric Theatre's eco-project, 'Waste Busters' the musical, which is currently touring schools across all council areas in Northern Ireland, educating and encouraging efforts to protect our resources. I will be attending a production of that in the next few weeks.”
“<BR /> <BR />Work also continues on the introduction of a deposit return scheme (DRS) for single-use drinks containers, which will launch in Northern Ireland in October 2027.”
“The plan will collate the targets incorporated in existing policies and strategies and identify actions that will contribute to eliminating unnecessary plastic in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />My officials are working to bring forward regulations to transpose the EU single-use plastics directive into Northern Ireland domestic law, which will remove more commonly littered and unnecessary single-use plastic items from circulation. The primary objective of the single-use plastics directive is to protect our environment. Single-use plastic products are a wasteful use of resources, being used only once before being discarded, impacting on our marine and natural environment. The introduction of those regulations will reduce the volume and impact of plastic products on our environment.”
“I have ambitious goals to protect our environment from plastic pollution, reduce unnecessary waste and promote sustainability. My Department has already taken action with the introduction of legislation to ban single-use vapes and wet wipes containing plastic. <BR /> <BR />My Department is leading on work to bring forward the plastic pollution plan for Northern Ireland. It is an overarching document with the aim of addressing and tackling the problem of plastic pollution in Northern Ireland. The plan will set the course for Northern Ireland to be part of the plastic solution and become a leader in driving the necessary change. A public consultation ran from 2 July 2025 for 12 weeks, with responses from citizens and businesses. Feedback received will be incorporated into the final plan.”
“<BR /> <BR />So the response and the proposed way forward on recycling is ready to go, but I need Executive agreement on it. There are positive elements alongside that, the most recent example being kerbside glass collection by Belfast City Council. My Department has supported that. That is good and popular, and it is important that we embrace it.”
“As I outlined in my response to the question, I are consulting on a waste management strategy. I previously consulted on a recycling strategy, for which I sent a departmental response to my Executive colleagues in the summer of last year. That strategy is ready to go, and I want to be able to issue it to councils, but it is with the Executive, and I cannot publish it until I get their agreement on it. I share your frustration, because it has been sitting there for months. It is important that we help people to recycle. We have done so much good work on the amount of recycling in Northern Ireland — it has been a really good achievement — but we need to go further, because we want to boost our local economy and deal with environmental concerns that result from waste, whether it goes to landfill or incineration.”
“Separate collections are beneficial because they lead to more local reprocessing, support investment in jobs in reprocessing plants and manufacturing, and reduce waste export volumes and associated emissions.”
“Thank you, John. It is of key importance that we improve the quality as well as the quantity of recycling. That will ensure that the resource value of the material collected is maximised. For example, local reprocessors have told us that they are unable to take commingled glass, because high-quality cullet is essential to efficient re-melting. Contamination by ceramics, plastics and other particles reduces furnace efficiency, increases energy use and damages equipment. That means that our local businesses have to import high-quality material, while the collected commingled glass is exported to other nations for cleaning and processing or for downgrading to aggregate. That represents a missed opportunity for our local economy.”
“<BR /> <BR />Since the summer of last year, I have been seeking support from my Executive colleagues to publish my departmental response so that I can provide the clarity that councils and businesses require and assure householders that their efforts will boost a local reprocessing industry, creating new good green jobs and enhancing our local circular economy. As stated earlier, my draft waste management strategy has been launched for consultation. The consultation will close on 8 April, and I encourage everyone to respond to it to ensure that their views are heard.”
“The responses to the consultation informed a draft departmental response containing recommendations for driving down the volume of residual waste and improving the quality and quantity of material being collected for recycling, supporting local processing. <BR /> <BR />Action is needed. Recycling rates are stagnating. We are exporting waste to other countries instead of managing our waste locally and we are losing valuable economic resource that could drive investment in local green jobs and support a local circular economy. I have heard at first hand that councils and businesses are seeking clear direction and clarity on our proposals, as they want to make investment decisions for their operations and to know how the proposals will impact on them.”
“With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will answer questions 2 and 9 together. <BR /> <BR />'Rethinking Our Resources' comprises two work streams that aim to help with the decarbonisation of our economy, improving our environment and building a better and more circular economy. The first stream focuses on specific waste and recycling reforms that are of interest to householders, councils and businesses. The second stream is the waste management strategy, which I launched recently. That will set the policy direction at a strategic level for waste management in Northern Ireland for the next six years. <BR /> <BR />In 2024, my Department consulted on a range of proposals to improve recycling and waste collections across households and businesses.”
“I am aware of the issue that you have outlined. I am also aware of the role that the Shared Environmental Service plays in it. I am happy to take that away and write to you, because I want to confirm the exact facts. There was a delay in getting the advice, and we told the Shared Environmental Service to proceed in its absence. If the advice has come back, I am happy to write to give you a bit more detail on it. The issue is complex, but I know that it has been of concern to the farming community.”
“We need to have a more effective planning system, and I am committed to playing my role in that regard.”
“I am aware of the Committee's deliberations on the matter. You will be aware that, in 2019, there was a review of the planning system in Northern Ireland, with a particular focus on the role of statutory consultees. One of the recommendations was the establishment of a cross-government planning forum of senior leaders. You are aware of what the forum does: it meets quarterly and includes representatives from Departments, public bodies that have a key statutory consultee role as part of the planning process, councils and planning group staff. The director of NIEA's natural environment division in DAERA is part of the forum. I will consider your request, but I am conscious of the forum's remit and the role of the Department for Infrastructure. Let us be clear, however: statutory consultees' responses need to come back more quickly.”
“We have a performance plan in place, and I will visit officials at their site in Lisburn in the coming weeks.”
“Thank you, Daniel, for your question. As you know, a Northern Ireland Environment Agency improvement plan is under way to review communication and stakeholder engagement, alongside other areas. As a first step in that plan, officials will implement a special exercise to provide an update on all consultations that await a response. The update will be provided to planners through the Northern Ireland consultee hub. The update will confirm receipt of the planning consultation, advise whether the case has been allocated to a case officer and provide an indicative time frame for a response. The indicative response time for each development type will also be published on the DAERA website. I recognise that there is more to do on NIEA planning response times.”
“The contact details are also available on the departmental website.”
“With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will group questions 1 and 8 together for answer. <BR /> <BR />The planning response team is the single point of contact for planning consultations and environmental queries relating to planning and provides a single, integrated response to each consultation across DAERA's areas of responsibility. Where an elected representative wishes to engage on a planning application, the planning response team, as the coordinating team, will direct the query to the relevant consultee team, or teams, for a response. That is the most effective approach because there are eight consultee teams in DAERA, and an application may need a response from more than one team. The planning response team can be contacted by email at planningresponse.team@daera-ni.gov.uk or via telephone on 028 9056 9604.”
“To summarise, the draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2026 will implement three technical changes to the UK ETS. It will adjust the historical activity level to take account of the disruption caused by COVID-19, update benchmarks so that they continue to align with those adopted by the EU ETS for the allocation period 2026-2030 and phase the reduction of the free allocation for CBAM-covered sectors. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Committee for its engagement. It is important that we are able to provide certainty on the issue. I commend the Order to the House.”
“No, I do not. <BR /> <BR />I thank everyone who contributed to the debate.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I have a 15-minute winding-up speech.”
“It will make three technical changes to the UK ETS free allocation regulations that relate to historical activity data, an update to sector-specific benchmarks and the introduction of the phased reduction of free allocation for sectors that overlap with UK CBAM. The amendments are necessary to ensure the continued effectiveness of the scheme and will help to ensure that the scheme continues to play its part in incentivising greenhouse gas emission reduction in Northern Ireland and across the UK by ensuring that free allocation is targeted to the sectors most at risk of carbon leakage. Accordingly, I commend the Order to the House.”
“The CBAM should, therefore, ensure that highly traded carbon-intensive products that are imported from overseas face a carbon price comparable to that which is payable for products produced in the UK and that UK decarbonisation efforts lead to a true reduction in global emissions, rather than simply displacing carbon emissions overseas. The draft Order enables the reduction of free allocation annually during the period 2027-2030 for UK ETS operators covered by the UK CBAM. This approach will ensure a gradual transition for UK industries from free allocation to the UK CBAM as the primary carbon leakage mitigation measure. <BR /> <BR />Those are the main elements of the Order.”
“From January 2027, CBAM will be introduced, and it will eventually replace ETS free allocation as the main carbon leakage mitigation tool for the sectors in scope, with the gradual phase-out of free allocation coinciding with the UK CBAM introduction. A carbon border adjustment mechanism works on the principle of placing a carbon price on imports of goods from certain sectors, with the aim of creating a level playing field by ensuring that imported goods face the same carbon price as those produced domestically.”
“This instrument retains current benchmark values for the 2027 scheme year and provides for the adoption of updated EU benchmark values for the 2028-2030 scheme years, once those values are available. The decision across the UK to retain alignment with EU benchmarks has been considered in the context of the UK and EU's announcement that they will work towards linking their respective emissions trading schemes. I welcome that. Maintaining alignment with the EU approach should avoid the creation of competitive distortions between the schemes and increase consistency in decarbonisation incentives. The approach has been welcomed by business and industry here. <BR /> <BR />The third amendment allows for the phased reduction of free allocation for sectors covered by the UK carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM).”
“That approach aims to ensure a fair representation of typical activity levels for the 2027-2030 allocation period. <BR /> <BR />The second change relates to the benchmarks used in the free allocation calculation. Benchmarks are set at an average of the top 10% most efficient operators in each industrial sector, with operators closer to those benchmarks receiving a higher proportion of free allowances. Efficiency is measured on the basis of emissions generated per unit of product, with lower emissions per unit indicating higher efficiency. That ensures that free allocation continues to reward and incentivise decarbonisation efforts. The UK ETS benchmark values have been aligned with EU values since the implementation of the scheme in 2021.”
“<BR /> <BR />If the draft Order is approved by the House, it will make the following three changes to the calculation of free allocation for the 2027-2030 allocation period. The first is an adjustment to account for COVID-19 impact. ETS installations' historical activity and emissions levels during a defined baseline period are a key component of the free allocation entitlement calculation. To account for the disruption that was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the draft Order will allow participants the option to exclude activity data for the year 2020, or 2020 plus 2021, as potentially reduced levels of activity during those years of COVID disruption could result in baseline data reports being unrepresentative of normal activity, potentially unfairly affecting free allocation entitlement.”
“<BR /> <BR />Alongside my counterparts in England, Wales and Scotland, I agreed to the content and subsequent publication on 26 November 2025 of the UK ETS authority response to those consultations, which included commitments to make three technical changes to UK ETS free allocation policy. The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2026 was laid under the draft affirmative resolution procedure before both Houses of Parliament on 16 December 2025 and before the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Senedd and the Northern Ireland Assembly on 17 December 2025 under the Climate Change Act 2008, which requires that the Order be laid in draft and debated in each legislature where it is to have effect. So far, the draft Order has been debated and approved by the Welsh Senedd and the Houses of Parliament.”
“<BR /> <BR />The proposals that are contained in the draft Order, which make changes to the free allocation element of the scheme, were subject to extensive engagement with stakeholders through two joint UK-wide consultations on a review of free allocation methodology and distribution in the UK ETS. The free allocation of UK ETS allowances is the main policy instrument through which carbon leakage risk is currently addressed in the UK. The free provision allowances to operators that are considered to be at risk of carbon leakage reduces their carbon price exposure to lessen the risk of offshoring production.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I am grateful for the opportunity to bring the motion forward. I do not propose to cover in detail the background and operation of the UK emissions trading scheme (ETS). I am, however, happy to address any clarification questions that Members may have. 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 that UK-wide decarbonisation scheme to our climate targets and those of the UK Government.”
“My concern is that more cases of bluetongue will be reported as we move into warmer weather in spring and summer. We will continue to engage with the industry and the farming community around the support that we can provide. Bluetongue has been in England for a long while and has now arrived on our shores. We did not perceive its arriving in winter, but it is here, and we are responding to it. I thank veterinary service officials for their work in that regard.”
“The temporary control zone, which is where people have been primarily affected, does not fall within your constituency.”
“The Department has given, and will continue to give, advice on biosecurity. That is important.”
“I am aware of the concerns around that. I have been in contact with my counterpart in the South. A case of the bluetongue virus has been identified in the South, and they are responding to that there. We will assist when necessary. <BR /> <BR />To date, five cases of bluetongue have been identified in Northern Ireland. We have been able to ease movements within the temporary control zone. We will keep the matter under review. I understand the concerns of the farming community. I gave a direction that we would help with some of the costs of pre-movement testing, and, thankfully, that has been taken up. As the picture unfolds, we will continue to respond.”
“The tracking of applications has always been in place. It is important that that happens so that when the applications are received and turned around is tracked. I reassure the Member that that has always been the case. <BR /> <BR />Not every planning application is the same. Some issues and challenges with ammonia pollution are reflected in the responses from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. That is a challenge that I inherited. Ammonia levels are going up. There is severe pollution in Northern Ireland. We have an obligation to turn that around. <BR /> <BR />I am aware of the farming community's concerns about the replacement sheds that they want. We are trying to find a solution to that. If it were easy, it would not have been sitting for so long before I came into office.”
“Northern Ireland Environment Agency response times are a long-standing issue. When I became Minister, my first-day brief set that out. I am committed to trying to turn that around. <BR /> <BR />One of the biggest challenges that my Department has is resources: getting people in post so that they can do the jobs that are need to be done. I continue to engage with the Finance Minister on the recruitment of staff into post. We need to do better on that, but the planning system, more broadly, needs to be improved so that it results in response times that are more prompt. I will engage with the Infrastructure Minister as required, but, more importantly, I will progress the improvement plan for the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.”
“It is important that we carry out climate adaptation. There is an impact on communities. You just outlined the impact in your constituency, and I would be only too delighted to come along with you to meet those residents.”
“That is an important intervention that we are duty-bound to take. It is also important that we take those actions if we are to protect our communities, society, businesses and the economy from the impacts of climate change. The third climate adaptation plan has been with the Executive for a while, and I will continue to engage with my Executive colleagues on it, because it is important that we get it agreed and published. We are particularly conscious of the impact of climate change in the winter months, with there being more severe and more regular storms. We need to be better prepared for that.”
“I agree that access to nature would bring significant benefits to Northern Ireland, and particularly to the city of Belfast. If that project were progressed, it would increase access to walkable green spaces, cycle paths and outdoor recreational facilities. It would encourage more active lifestyles, reducing chronic illnesses and obesity rates.”
“One of my 10 pledges for the mandate is to publish and work to deliver a nature recovery strategy to ensure that 30% of land and sea is protected and well managed for nature by 2030. The Member will note that I recently launched a draft nature recovery strategy for consultation. Improving our environment is vital for the benefits that it brings to people, the economy and our precious wildlife. I am keen to support projects that share my vision of an environment that is bigger, better managed and more connected for the future, such as the national park city initiative, which will bring nature closer to people in urban areas.”
“That includes delivering PEACE PLUS funding of €80 million and £31 million of city and growth and complementary funding initiatives, alongside a range of initiatives under the tackling rural poverty and social isolation framework.”
“Thank you, Sian. Last year, I committed to developing for consultation a new evidence-based rural policy, which received the support of my Executive colleagues. My Department has worked closely with rural stakeholders, Departments, local government and other stakeholders to co-design outline proposals. My intention is to consult on those proposals in the early part of this year. In advance of that, I recently shared with my ministerial colleagues the draft outline rural policy proposals. <BR /> <BR />Whilst the policy is being developed, my Department continues to address the needs and to develop the assets of rural communities by delivering significant Executive priorities in partnership with the Special EU Programmes Body and councils.”
“Additionally, in December of last year, 1,048 rural voluntary and community organisations across Northern Ireland received capital grants totalling £1·74 million through the rural micro capital grant scheme. Those grants assist community and voluntary organisations to purchase capital items or undertake minor capital works to help address locally identified poverty or social isolation issues, with an estimated 165,000 rural dwellers benefiting from that. <BR /> <BR />In addition, my Department continues to fund the rural community development support service and contributes to the regional infrastructure support programme, which is delivered by the Department for Communities.”
“My Department supports rural businesses and voluntary and community organisations through the rural business development grant scheme and the rural micro capital grant scheme, which are delivered under the tackling rural poverty and social isolation framework. <BR /> <BR />In December 2025, over £6 million of grant aid was awarded to 1,310 businesses through the rural business development grant scheme, which is delivered in partnership with the 10 rural councils. The grant aid allows rural microbusinesses to purchase capital equipment that will help them to enhance sustainability and growth and, in many cases, to create employment opportunities that, in turn, will strengthen the rural economy.”