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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“Unlike my predecessor, that is a priority for me. When the measures under the sustainable agriculture programme were announced in March 2022, that matter did not feature. I have been clear that, once we get the farm sustainability payment and farm sustainability standards in place, we will move resources to support the roll-out of a sheep support scheme and to support Farming with Nature. I cannot be any clearer.”
“I am working really hard to address the issue and am trying to work with people to do so. If people do not want to support me in that, that is fine, but they need to take ownership of the consequences of their actions.”
“There have been two reports. The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute's (AFBI) 'RePhoKUs' study came out in 2020. That peer-reviewed science has been published. More recently, New Harmonica research has pointed towards the sources of pollution. Such research allows us to target our action. <BR /> <BR />I will say two things. We can go through the statistics and talk numbers and all the rest of it. Belfast lough is in a dire state. Lough Erne is in a desperate state. Lough Neagh has been green for the past three summers. There is a ban on bathing on the north coast. There is only so far that people can go in debasing science and evidence before it catches up with them. It is clear that we have a problem. It would be great if we could accept the problem and work together to address it.”
“Belfast lough is fast becoming another Lough Neagh. Soon, it will be nothing short of an open-air sewer. I am very clear that, with regard to NI Water, we need to strengthen regulation and enforcement. I will continue to do that, and I look forward to having the Executive's support on that.”
“I am the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and I have been clear that water pollution needs to be dealt with. I will again say today, in case people were not listening, that sewage pollution of our waterways is not acceptable. I want to strengthen regulation and enforcement on that, because the situation in Lough Neagh and other places, such as Lough Erne and Belfast lough, is not acceptable.”
“That is something for which, thankfully, we have arrangements in place. We have the policing and community safety partnerships (PCSPs) in Northern Ireland that can shape local responses. I am happy to discuss with the Member any particular concerns that he has and relay those to my partners in the justice system.”
“Yes, I engaged with the Justice Minister on the importance of Rural Crime Week, and we profiled that because, collectively, working across government and with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, it is important that we raise awareness of those issues and encourage people to come forward and report them. The Member knows that there are many issues in rural communities. Naomi and I gave a focus during the launch to the issue of domestic violence. It is an issue that has touched far too many homes in Northern Ireland and has a particularly acute impact on rural communities, where the feeling of isolation can be acute and the importance of support services is absolutely key. I will continue to work with my partners, particularly the Justice Minister, in that regard.”
“Mr McCrossan, I do not get involved in freedom of information requests to the Department. If I, as the Minister, were doing that, you would be the first to say that it was totally inappropriate. You have the right to appeal the decision. I am not going to say to officials, "Release this and do not release that"; that is not the way to run a Department. <BR /> <BR />One of the issues about the A5 is the appeal that is under way. I have been clear that I have intervened with regard to that. It is important that I do that, because I believe in taking action on climate change. It is important that we implement the legislation as it was intended, and I have intervened in relation to the appeal in furtherance of that.”
“The request for freedom of information was processed and responded to in line with the relevant legislation. The relevant exemptions were applied in respect of withheld or redacted information, and that was fully outlined in the response. As Minister, I do not get involved in deciding what is released and what is not released with regard to freedom of information, and that is the right approach.”
“We have a role to play. Let us get this agreed, get it out to consult and deal with the air quality issues that are affecting far too many people in Northern Ireland, particularly people in the Member's constituency.”
“It is also important that other Departments, and the Department for the Economy and the Department for Communities in particular, play their role.”
“My Department continues to finalise the actions in the draft clean air strategy. The strategy's focus will be on improving air quality across Northern Ireland, including Belfast, with a focus on human health. Whilst my Department will lead on the work, there is an important role for other Departments to play to ensure that, together, we bring about the change that is needed to improve air quality. By working together, we can deliver a strategy that will further address air pollution emissions and hotspots to ensure that there are measurable improvements, to the benefit of public health. <BR /> <BR />I am conscious that air quality often affects those who are least well off in Northern Ireland. That is why it is important that we get out and consult on the issue.”
“The agreement was reached in May of this year. The UK Government are working through the negotiation of the legal text. We understand that implementation will take place in 2027. It will have real benefits for us when it comes to the movement of agri-food products between GB and NI. I have made it clear to the UK Government that the agreement should extend beyond that and that they should have an ambition for a customs agreement between the UK and the EU. They have said that that is not on the agenda and is a red line, but I am clear on the substantial benefits that it would have for Northern Ireland and the UK economy, and I continue to make that case.”
“I have focused very much, as many other people have, on reducing the friction between GB and NI. One of the issues arising from that is with border security at Dover. It is therefore important that I engage with the UK Government in advance of those checks being removed or reduced, so that the BTOM is in place and we do not have those movements from Calais to Dover.”
“That is slightly complicated because of the Secretary of State's direction and control powers and the differential that sits in my Department. As Minister, I am aware of concerns that have been raised about movements of products from outside the European Union into the European Union and then across from Calais to Dover. They should not have come through Dover. Products have come through GB and have been stopped at the border control point at, for example, Belfast or Larne. We have had a situation in which illegal meat imports were stopped. It is good that they did not get in. We have also had a report, of which you are probably aware, of sheep being brought through illegally. I commend the Ulster Farmers' Union's leadership in joining us on the message about the importance of that not happening and the importance of biosecurity.”
“I have engaged significantly with the UK Government on the issue on the back of recent reports, including the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee report that came out on 8 September. Movements of meat products between GB and NI largely sit with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, but I have made my case on the issue. I have also had conversations with my counterpart in the South about the importance of the issue, and he has reassured me about the interventions that his Government are making. My ultimate message to people is about the importance of vigilance and ensuring that meat is not illegally imported into Northern Ireland.”
“Responsibility for assessing and managing the risks from illegally imported meat rests with the UK Government through the border target operating model (BTOM). I continue to engage with UK Government counterparts and have emphasised the importance of implementing the BTOM at the earliest opportunity to strengthen biosecurity and safeguard public and animal health.”
“The time frame for delivery relies largely on resources. Every time that I receive correspondence from Members, MPs or councillors asking for an update, it breaks my heart to have to reply, "That was the last time that we received something. We cannot give you any further update". We need to do better in that regard. We need to turn responses around. That is why we are focused on developing a programme to improve response times. There is an issue with how we engage with councils, and that is a key measure to take forward. As I said, however, the key point is that we need resource.”
“The Department is actively seeking to recruit nine new staff members to support the planning function in the natural environment division of NIEA. It is hoped that, once in post, those new staff will add resilience to the DAERA planning function in order to support a reduction in response time frames.”
“It is a fact that we do not meet those targets, and one of the key issues in that is resources and recruiting people into the role. We are continuing to focus on that. I understand the concerns about the matter, and we continue to work at it.”
“That plan will include a range of measures to improve planning performance and service and will cover the following five strands: technical advice and guidance; caseload management; monitoring and reporting on performance; process and IT systems; and communication and stakeholder engagement. In addition, my Department is working in collaboration with the Department for Infrastructure's cross-governmental planning statutory consultee forum and has contributed to a number of exercises that are aimed at driving forward continuous improvements in the planning system.”
“Ongoing measures that are already being prioritised include a review and update of internal processes and procedures; a review of the standing advice and guidance that are available on the DAERA website, with the aim of improving the quality of applications that are submitted and encouraging councils to consult us less frequently; analysis of consultations that are being receipted to inform targeted measures to reduce the level of re-consultation and improve the quality of information that is submitted with a consultation; engagement with other jurisdictions; exploring prioritisations for exceptional cases with planning authorities; and staff resourcing in my Department, which includes seeking to recruit additional staff for that work area. <BR /> <BR />My officials are working to deliver a planning improvement plan during 2025-26.”
“As a statutory consultee in the planning system, DAERA's performance is measured against a duty to respond to a statutory consultation within 21 calendar days or an otherwise agreed timescale. I am aware of the frustrations that are caused by the time that it takes my Department to respond as a statutory consultee to some planning consultations.”
“I have been very clear that sheep support is a priority for me and my Department. Once we get the farm sustainability payment and farm sustainability standards in place — hopefully, we can get that done this year, because people have been trading entitlements on the basis that that new payment arrangement will come into place from 1 January — we will be able to move resources towards the sheep support scheme and the roll-out of Farming with Nature. We do not have infinite resources, but I am very clear that it is a priority for us to establish that support. Once we get the farm sustainability payment and farm sustainability standards in place, resources can move to it.”
“The climate action plan is out for consultation, and part of that is on agriculture. However, agriculture is only one sector; many other sectors have a role to play in the climate action plan, such as transport, energy, housing and many others. Although climate change sits in and is a lead responsibility of my Department, I cannot be left to do all the heavy lifting on it. Other people have a responsibility to take actions forward. Through the sustainable agriculture programme, we support farmers on what lies ahead, and it is really important that we do, because, by taking action on animal health and welfare, we can ensure better outcomes for our environment and climate and deliver a decarbonised future.”
“We will consult on that in the time ahead. We also need to support farmers in building the confidence to deal with this issue and to change the fatalism that sometimes exists, because this issue is having a real effect on farmers' mental health, and we need to be able to support them in the measures that can take place. We also need to continue to support 100% compensation, and I have been doing that in conjunction with the Finance Minister. <BR /> <BR />Believe me, I understand the importance of the issue and the impact that it is having on farmers in Northern Ireland and on my Department's budget. We will focus on delivery over the time ahead, but we need to get people to support the measures and the interventions required.”
“Thank you. In my original answer, I said that the blueprint was published last year: it was published in April 2025. It was the Chief Veterinary Officer's report that was published last year, and we then worked with stakeholders to agree a blueprint. <BR /> <BR />The Member will be aware that the issue of TB predates my time as Minister. I inherited an absolute mess in that regard. A successful judicial review had been taken against the Department, and I had to shape a way forward. This is not unique to Northern Ireland. It is a challenge in the South and across the water. We are focusing on implementing the blueprint, which is based on three pillars: people, cattle and wildlife. I have talked a bit about that in the Chamber in recent weeks and have outlined my belief that there needs to be a wildlife intervention.”
“My Department, alongside key stakeholders, is committed to advancing the 'Bovine Tuberculosis in Northern Ireland: Blueprint for Eradication', which was published last year.”
“My officials and I have taken cognisance of that report and other relevant research in that area. The report recognises that better animal health and welfare have positive impacts on sustainability, the environment, climate change and productivity. A range of DAERA policies align with the recommendations in the report on improving animal welfare, health and efficiency. In the sustainable agriculture programme, those include the bovine genetics project; the beef sustainability package, which comprises the beef carbon reduction scheme, the suckler cow scheme and knowledge programmes targeted at reducing the slaughter age of beef cattle and calving intervals of suckler cows; as well as exploring options around feed and slurry additives.”
“We can shape a Budget that will transform the lives of people in Northern Ireland, but that means facing up to difficult issues. We have to ensure that we are spending our money wisely and using it to transform public services and improve the environment. Time will tell whether we are prepared to do that.”
“Thank you, Matthew. The proposal to consult on the nutrients action programme was contained in the Lough Neagh report and action plan, so it is no surprise that we consulted on that, and it is also a legal obligation. I have reached out to all political parties asking them to engage with me on these key issues and to give me the support that I will need in the time ahead. I thank you for meeting us recently to discuss that, and I look forward to meeting all the other parties. I also met Mike Nesbitt, the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, and Robbie Butler last week. I need to meet the DUP and Sinn Féin, and it is important that I do that. <BR /> <BR />The Budget for Northern Ireland is critical. It is a four-year capital budget and a three-year resource budget.”
“I have been very clear, and will be clear again today, about the need to act on that and also to take climate action. These issues are all interlinked, and we have to take those actions together, because we cannot have the same scenes playing out every summer in Lough Neagh.”
“We went out to consult on proposals for the nutrients action programme. If we now cannot even consult and discuss the issue, that is quite serious with regard to our democracy and how we deal with the seriousness of Lough Neagh. I am glad that the consultation is completed. I thank the thousands of people who responded to it. We are considering the responses. The group will consider those responses alongside any other suggestions that are made during the process. Hopefully, we can get to a place where we ensure that we support farmers on the road ahead. However, we must also recognise that the nutrients action programme does not sit in isolation from issues such as sewage pollution.”
“There was an informal meeting of the group a few weeks ago. We are seeking to schedule a formal meeting. Hopefully, we will be able to make announcements, ideally this week, on the appointment of an external facilitator, get that meeting scheduled and start the work. I can feed back the issue that you outlined to the external facilitator. Through that group, there is an opportunity to chart a way forward. From the informal meeting of the group, I know that there is a will to find a way forward and solutions that are workable at farm level, with realistic time frames that meet our legal obligations. We will need funding in order to have a just transition, but I am confident that, if the politics are taken out of it, we can find a way forward.”
“The subgroup will have representation from the Agri-food and Biosciences Institute, AgriSearch and other relevant organisations. The aim is to strike the right balance between meeting our legal obligations, which we must do, and improving water quality, whilst supporting the long-term sustainability of Northern Ireland's farming sector. That is key. I believe that, by working collaboratively and constructively, we can achieve those outcomes.”
“To support the development of the revised nutrients action programme, I have established a stakeholder task-and-finish group of organisations that represent a range of interests across farming, agri-food and the environment as well as DAERA officials. The group will consider the key findings from the recent NAP consultation, including alternative solutions and evidence submitted through the consultation, and propose evidence-based measures that are workable at farm level, provided that they meet legal obligations to improve water quality and have workable time frames. <BR /> <BR />In addition, I have asked my Chief Scientific Adviser's office to establish a science subgroup, which will assist the work of the task-and-finish group in ensuring that the final NAP proposals are scientifically robust and evidence-based.”
“Thank you, Daniel. Anaerobic digesters and how we manage their growth is a big challenge. We need to make sure that anaerobic digesters are not adding to the problem but alleviating it. I am not going to give you statistics off the hoof in the Chamber, but it is a key challenge. There was a conference last week. There is an opportunity for anaerobic digestion, but that should not be to the detriment of the environment.”
“I do not have responsibility for NI Water. The Minister for Infrastructure does, and I am waiting for those proposals, which are a long time coming.”
“I have been crystal clear about the sewage pollution situation. Let me set it out yet again. The situation whereby we are pumping raw sewage into Lough Neagh, Belfast lough and other waterways is not acceptable and needs to be dealt with. My role covers regulation and enforcement. It is not acceptable that there is a separate arrangement in place for NI Water that gives it a bye ball if it can outline how an incident is as a result of historical underinvestment. I have written to NI Water and to the Infrastructure Minister to seek their views on that. I will be bringing proposals to the Executive so that we can strengthen the regulation and enforcement of sewage pollution. What is happening is not acceptable, and it needs to change. <BR /> <BR />I have been clear about the need to invest in waste water infrastructure.”
“I am determined to do that, and the type of funding that we are going to need will be put towards low-emission slurry-spreading equipment and many other technologies that are available. If people want to support me and the farming community in Northern Ireland, let us see the budget.”
“We all know what the problem is in Lough Neagh. Anyone who does not has probably been living under a rock. There is an issue with pollution of the lough, and we need to address that. We have climate change, so the water has therefore got warmer. Invasive species have made the water clearer. We therefore have a situation in which we have had blue-green algae over three successive summers. There has now been advice issued against bathing on the north coast, while the brown eel fishing season has been halted. We have real problems, but I am focused on turning them around. <BR /> <BR />The years ahead will provide a three-year resource budget and a four-year capital budget. I need that funding for a just transition fund for agriculture so that we can assist farmers on the journey that lies ahead.”
“I met the panel last week, and its final report is coming in the next number of weeks. The report will need support so that we can strengthen environmental governance in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />The final element concerns agriculture. Everyone has to play their part in improving water quality in Northern Ireland. I put on record my thanks for the good work that farmers did in previous decades. They are fantastic custodians of the countryside, and we need to help them on the road ahead. I have therefore been working with the Minister of Finance, because I will need support for a just transition fund for agriculture. We also need to get around the Executive table to finalise an agreed scheme of measures for the nutrients action programme, consult further and get agreement to move forward with it. I believe that we can.”
“We have had the warmest summer on record, which is not unrelated to the scenes that we have witnessed in Lough Neagh. We are out to consult on the climate action plan, and, once we conclude the consultation, I will finalise the action plan and bring it to the Executive for agreement. Hopefully, people can support me. There are opportunities to take climate action, but there are also moral and legal imperatives to do so. <BR /> <BR />A further element relates to environmental governance. We are the only part of the UK and Ireland that does not have an independent environmental protection agency. I commissioned an independent panel to look at the issue, and it came back to me with an interim report in June that recommended the establishment of an independent environmental protection agency.”
“Thank you for your question, David. I was glad to get Executive support in July 2024 for the Lough Neagh report and action plan, and I have focused on delivery of that plan. Many actions have been achieved, while others are progressing, but I will need support from my Executive colleagues on some key interventions, one of which relates to waste water infrastructure in particular. I will be looking at strengthening regulation and enforcement for sewage pollution, and I will need support for that. I have been very clear in putting on the record that we will need to be brave in stepping forward to look at the investment that is required in our waste water infrastructure. I am happy to support any proposals that the Minister for Infrastructure brings forward. <BR /> <BR />Another element is climate change.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, with your permission, I will group questions 2 and 15 together for answer. Of the 37 actions in the plan, 14 have been delivered, 22 are actively progressing, and one is pending because it is contingent on another action's being taken forward first. I remain committed to driving forward the delivery of the remaining actions at pace. Progress to date reflects coordinated efforts across key themes, including scientific research and innovation, enhanced monitoring and enforcement, education and stakeholder engagement, regulatory reform, and strategic communications. Although important strides have been made, it is essential to recognise that the lough's recovery requires sustained, long-term action. Given the depth and complexity of the problem, substantial recovery will take many years, if not decades.”
“I am very conscious that, in my role as Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, I have lead responsibility for rural affairs, but each Department has responsibility around this, including duties in legislation. If we all work together, we are going to achieve a better outcome for rural communities. I am happy to talk with you afterwards about what your specific ask is. I can then meet Gordon and discuss that with him. Collectively, we can all do a lot more for rural communities. I am glad to see that the Department for Communities is taking forward its scheme, and I am happy to work with any Minister who is going to help to deliver for rural communities.”
“I have also engaged closely with rural stakeholders, providing an opportunity for them to inform future rural policy through a co-design process. That includes input from local government, academics and section 75 groups. It is my intention that a draft rural policy for Northern Ireland will be consulted on early next year.”
“The rural development programme was a popular support arrangement that was funded through the European Union. Unfortunately, it was one of the many casualties of Brexit, but I have taken action in response. I established a new rural policy unit on 1 April 2024 and tasked it with developing future rural policy for Northern Ireland. I recognise that all Departments are responsible for exercising their functions in urban and rural areas and for developing their rural policy. My Department is engaging with other Departments to explore future opportunities for supporting rural communities and to help identify how DAERA can work more effectively with them in the future to deliver better outcomes for rural dwellers.”
“Thank you for your question. I am going to be open about this. We were looking at doing a rural halls scheme, but we found out that the Department for Communities was looking at developing a scheme for rural and urban areas, so I am happy to support Minister Lyons in the work that he is doing in relation to that. We will develop a new rural policy in the time ahead, which will be about ensuring that all Departments play their role in relation to rural communities. It is important that we consult on that, which will happen early in the new year, to get people's views so that we can shape policy. I will continue to work with the Department for Communities on this issue and many others.”
“<BR /> <BR />I have also recently launched the rural micro capital grants scheme to provide small but important capital grants to the voluntary and community sector to address locally identified poverty or social isolation issues. The scheme closes for applications on 20 October 2025, with more information available on the DAERA website.”