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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“I fully acknowledge the importance of sustaining community buildings. On 24 September, the Department for Communities launched the pilot Northern Ireland community infrastructure fund, which includes provision for the refurbishment and improvement of community buildings in rural and urban areas across Northern Ireland. It would therefore not be justifiable at present to develop another, similar scheme specifically for rural areas that would target the same outcomes as the DFC pilot. However, my officials are closely engaging with the DFC team, and I have indicated that I would welcome the potential for future collaboration in this area.”
“I express my commitment to work collectively with my Executive colleagues and stakeholders to shape a way forward in delivering the strategic framework for wildfires. We hope to launch that framework soon. I want to get people together and brief them on it. If we work collaboratively on the issue, we can turn a corner on it.”
“We need to call time on it. It is wrong. Deliberately and maliciously setting fires destroys our environment, takes firefighters and other resources away and puts homes and lives at risk. Moreover, people who set such fires are not being held to account. That needs to end. Those who are shielding the culprits need to come forward, ring the police or Crimestoppers, tell us who did it and be prepared to give evidence in court. I ask this of everyone: if you are aware of anyone who has been involved in deliberately and maliciously setting fires in our countryside, come forward before someone is killed or seriously injured. <BR /> <BR />I thank those involved in the community effort in response to the devastating incident that occurred at Sliabh Beagh.”
“That is why the publication of Northern Ireland's first peatland strategy is such a game changer. We launched it last week. It is on the DAERA website, and we encourage people to have a look. <BR /> <BR />Our efforts to incentivise nature-friendly farming through the Farming with Nature initiative is another example of win-win land management policy. Supporting farmers to better manage existing habitats and introduce new habitats for nature recovery, again, has knock-on positive benefits for water, climate and increasing resilience to wildfires. That combination of measures should hopefully reduce the extent and severity of wildfires, should they occur. <BR /> <BR />When we talk about wildfires, we need to be conscious that so many are deliberately set. I have no hesitation in calling them what they are: acts of rural arson.”
“<BR /> <BR />Another action must be the development and implementation of wildfire management and response plans in high-risk areas. The management plans will aim to make the landscape more resilient to large-scale wildfires, and the response plans will facilitate efficient responses to incidents. <BR /> <BR />Land management is absolutely key to creating more resilient landscapes. Examples of that are the intrinsic links between climate change, biodiversity decline and water quality. Peatland restoration is a great example of a key intervention that delivers win-win outcomes for society. Re-wetting peatland reduces fire risk, while creating important habitats to support nature recovery; acts as a carbon sink, reducing our emissions; and provides natural filtration of water to improve our waterways.”
“Future wildfire efforts from all stakeholders will be focused on the objectives of prevention, preparedness, response, recovery and enforcement. Publication of the strategic framework will enable the development of a focused and detailed wildfire action plan. We must agree that together. The action plan will therefore be co-designed to align with and ensure delivery of the strategic objectives within the wildfire strategic framework. <BR /> <BR />I am keen to see all stakeholders, including those at Sliabh Beagh, come together and engage in this process to design and implement the action plan. Key action from the strategic framework should be to enhance public knowledge of the risks that wildfires pose, in particular to public health. Hopefully, if people are aware of those risks, they will think twice before starting a fire.”
“The Peat+ project, led by Ulster Wildlife, was recently successful in PEACE PLUS funding, has won awards for biodiversity, nature recovery and resilience and includes conservation initiatives to boost wildfire management planning and habitat works in the area. I really welcome that. <BR /> <BR />We cannot, however, talk about Sliabh Beagh without referencing the wider context and challenges of wildfires in Northern Ireland. I am committed to playing my part, and I am glad to confirm that the new wildfires strategic framework was recently agreed by the Executive. It will be launched soon, once we get all government agencies and relevant stakeholders together to launch the plan and work in collaboration to deliver the action plan that will arise from it.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Police Service of Northern Ireland was in attendance and deployed its helicopter during part of the incident for vigilance. I encourage anyone with any information on the fire to report it to the police or to Crimestoppers. <BR /> <BR />In the wake of this appalling act, I warmly welcome the enthusiasm shown by local stakeholders to come up with potential solutions to help support recovery and prevent the number and severity of future fires. A conservation management plan was previously prepared for the Sliabh Beagh special area of conservation as part of the Collaborative Action for the Natura Network INTERREG project.”
“The fire affected approximately 90% of the ASSI protected zone. Northern Ireland Environment Agency wildfire all-terrain vehicles were deployed on day 1 and remained on site throughout the incident. <BR /> <BR />I put on record my thanks to officials from the Environment Agency, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and everyone else. Minister Nesbitt and I met Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service personnel a while ago in Lisburn and gave our thanks to the staff for the work that they do to respond to such wildfires, not just in Sliabh Beagh but in many other places across Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />In the case of Sliabh Beagh, there was excellent North/South cooperation. I thank my partners in the South for how they engaged and responded.”
“Despite what some say, Northern Ireland is not immune to the impacts of climate change. It is essential that we redouble our efforts to tackle climate change for sake of the health and well-being of our communities and economy. To tackle wildfires head-on, a truly collaborative and collective approach is needed from government and stakeholders. DAERA cannot do this alone: it requires everyone to work together. <BR /> <BR />A significant fire started on Sliabh Beagh on Wednesday 7 May of this year and was extinguished on Saturday 10 May. The fire was started deliberately at multiple locations across the site and impacted on nearly 8 square kilometres, making it the biggest fire recorded in Northern Ireland's history, ravaging what many would agree is the most beautiful and special part of Ireland.”
“The devastating impact of wildfires on our communities and precious landscapes is too great.”
“Thank you very much, Deputy Speaker. I thank Colm for bringing the Adjournment debate on what is a very important issue. <BR /> <BR />We know, as has been referenced, that wildfires are, sadly, not unique to Northern Ireland. In the past year, we have seen wildfires across the UK, Ireland, Europe and beyond. Hotter, drier summers as a result of climate change are exacerbating the risks posed by wildfires in Northern Ireland. That is yet another reason why we cannot afford further dither and delay in climate action.”
“It is that we can go to the shores of Lough Neagh next year. I am not saying that the situation will have been fixed or that we will not see a repeat of the scenes. Rather, I am saying that we will have taken the difficult decisions and that there will be real action. There are no quick fixes. There have been decades of neglect, and the situation cannot be turned around quickly, but it is important that we take the difficult decisions in order to address it. <BR /> <BR />I commend everyone who has engaged with me thus far. I look forward to engaging with party leaders in the time ahead. We hope to be able to make progress. What has happened in recent months is an abdication of leadership. We need to draw a line in the sand, and we need to say to people that we are prepared to take difficult decisions and are prepared to move forward.”
“All that I am asking is for people to give us their view on the Bill so that we can have stronger regulation and enforcement. I do not think that the situation at the moment is right. Some of the fines are pitiful, and some of the prosecutions are not taking place. We need to deal with that. It would be much better if the pollution did not take place in the first place, so that is why we are focusing on education and incentivisation, and I thank the Irish Government for their engagement around supporting us with that. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, there is hope, but difficult decisions will be required. A lot of the time, this place is known for telling people what they want to hear rather than for taking the tough decisions and doing so together. I have hope and an ambition, and it is for other people to decide whether it happens.”
“It is not optional; it is a must. We must take climate action. There is legislation, but there is also an imperative. It would be crazy that we would not invest in renewable energy, for example, and expose people to the price fluctuations as a result of dictatorships that own fossil fuels and subject people to the perils of fuel poverty. <BR /> <BR />The last issue, which people have talked about, is fines and reviewing those. We are considering a fisheries and water environment Bill. We will go out and consult further on that. We have done stakeholder engagement, and we need to have a proper regime in place for regulation and enforcement. We will consult on that Bill. There will be consultation, and we have done stakeholder engagement. If I see a motion back here saying, "Pull the consultation", I will despair.”
“It is not credible that I continue to work with farmers and agri-food but that we do not see progress on that, and we have a separate regulatory regime. <BR /> <BR />The other issue is climate change. We have had the warmest summer on record. Is that not a clear indication that the issues that we have seen in Lough Neagh are related to climate change? I am very clear that climate change is the biggest challenge of our time, and it is having real impacts on our society, particularly in relation to Lough Neagh. To deny the reality of climate change is mad. To be honest, we would be much better off signing up to science and evidence than to Nigel Farage. As far as I am concerned, I will continue to take action on climate change and will continue to seek support for that action, because we owe it to communities around Northern Ireland.”
“Farmers see a situation where NI Water has a separate regulatory regime, it gets a special deal and permission to pollute, and farmers do not think that that is fair. I have been on the record before on that, and I will say it again: I agree. That needs to end, and I need support from the Executive to deal with it, because we cannot have a situation where one major corporate polluter is given a separate special deal. We also need credible proposals to deal with waste water and sewage pollution. I will support the Infrastructure Minister if she brings forward proposals in relation to that. Ultimately, we have to make a decision here whether we are prepared to govern or not. I am prepared to support action on this, but we have to deal with sewage pollution. It is about one quarter of the problem.”
“It will include the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association and the Rivers Trust. It is important that I include them. We will also set up a subgroup for science and research, and that will include AFBI and AgriSearch. I am committed to bringing people together, and we are working at the moment to get an external facilitator for it. <BR /> <BR />So good work is being done. People are providing leadership and coming together. We do not all agree. There will be a robust exchange of views, but let us come together and find a way forward. However, here is the rub: I am working night and day to deal with nutrient pollution from agriculture. The lack of action on waste water infrastructure is a major issue.”
“I need the support so that we can have on-farm advisory support, and that is something that I am engaging with the Irish Government on because, frankly, we do not have an awful lot of money in Northern Ireland because of the UK economy situation. I will engage with the Irish Government, because the situation is clearly an all-Ireland situation, and good positive work can be done around that. <BR /> <BR />That is what I have outlined in relation to the nutrients action programme. I am committed to working with people. Some people have asked me, "Who is in the group? Who is not in the group? I want to be in the group." Everyone wants to be in the group, it seems, but I have to find a situation where we do not have too many people and we can actually make progress. I have made a decision today to finalise the membership of the group.”
“Fundamental to that is that we need to support farmers in Northern Ireland on that road. That is why I have met the Finance Minister and asked for a significant increase in the just transition fund for agriculture. What does that mean? It means that, for example, with the sustainable farm investment scheme, we are supporting technologies for farmers to use on the farm, which will reduce nutrients going into the lough and also deal with issues such as ammonia. I need the funding to support farmers in doing that. I also need funding for advisory support. There are four pillars around this: education, incentivisation, regulation and enforcement.”
“I ask people to put the politics aside, support the group, let them do the work, let them come together and bring forward proposals that we can get agreement on, so that we can find a way forward for nutrient management in Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />Further to that I have announced — people know this — that my intention is to set up a stakeholder group to through the responses and any other suggestions and find a way forward so that we can go to a further consultation and get final proposals agreed. The group consists of representatives from farming, agri-food, environmental groups and the Department. The group met informally for the first time on 27 August to discuss its remit. That was an extremely constructive meeting, and I record my profound thanks to people for coming round the table and wanting to focus on solutions. The leadership that has been shown by the Ulster Farmers' Union on this has been amazing. Agri-food wants to work together on it, and environmental NGOs also want to do that.”
“We are the only part of the UK and Ireland that does not have an independent environmental protection agency, and that cannot continue. How many more environmental disasters do we need to tell us that we need to establish it? The expert panels came back. They are doing a lot of good work, and we will get the final report and proceed on it. <BR /> <BR />The motion refers to the nutrients action programme. I was extremely disheartened that the Assembly supported the motion in June that called for me to withdraw the consultation. I was really disappointed at that. To me, consulting and getting people's views is a fundamental part of government. The consultation closed on 24 July, and I thank everyone who took the time to respond. There were 3,400 responses, so thank you to everyone who responded.”
“If there was ever an example of why we needed an independent environmental protection agency years ago, this is it. All I need to do is list Lough Neagh, Mobuoy, the state of our precious landscapes such as the Mournes, the Sperrins and Belfast lough, and the ongoing declines in wildlife and biodiversity. It is important that we take action to strengthen environmental governance. People ask me what that looks like. That is why I asked an independent panel to look at it. It came back with an interim report in June, and, as part of that, it recommended an independent environmental protection agency. The final report is due in the next few weeks. I will take it to the Executive and look for support to strengthen environmental governance. The current situation is not sustainable.”
“The sediment is full of phosphorus, and it will take about 40 years for that to be released. That is why I say that it will be decades in the fixing. However, we can make a start. We need to reduce the nutrients going into the lough. That is the fundamental issue: too much nutrient is going into the lough, but we can turn that around. <BR /> <BR />I have been talking about this in the last number of weeks, and I will outline it a bit more today. Fundamental decisions are coming down the road. I will set out what they are, and I am really looking forward to engaging with other political parties about what we can do to turn this around. We can do it, but people need to come together, work together and support me in that. <BR /> <BR />The first is environmental protection.”
“Fundamentally, we have to work together and show the people of Northern Ireland that hope and delivery can come from this place. I am confident that they can, and I want to engage with people and find a way forward on this. <BR /> <BR />On the positives — I have said that I am hopeful that we can turn this around — the Lough Neagh report and action plan is under way. Some 14 of the actions have been completed, and 22 are under way. Some people ask me why I say that it will take decades to fix. It is important that, in all our discussions around this, we are firmly wedded to science and evidence. I have seen some stuff in recent weeks that makes me despair. The denial of science fundamentally undermines people's trust and confidence in politics. The people of Northern Ireland deserve better than for people to deny those issues.”
“We must be capable of following through on and taking the difficult decisions that are needed. <BR /> <BR />You cannot govern by sound bites, social media graphics and photo shoots. The time ahead for Lough Neagh is absolutely, fundamentally critical. This is the biggest test of the Executive since restoration. Ultimately the test is about who is up for governing and who is not. I am up for taking those difficult decisions, and, if they come to me from other Ministers such as the Infrastructure Minister, in relation to waste water infrastructure, I will not be found wanting in my support. <BR /> <BR />I am keen to work with people, and, as Minister, I am writing to all the party leaders, asking for a meeting with all the parties in this place to discuss any issues that they have and how we can work together with regard to this.”
“It is important that the Department provides that support. <BR /> <BR />The issues have been reported on our TV screens yet again this summer. The historic termination of eel fishing must focus minds. I urge all Members of the Assembly to focus not on the next election, which many seem to be doing already, but on the next generation. I ask Members to look at the lough, look at what has been reported and realise that the status quo is not an option. The Programme for Government that was published a number of months ago is a contract with the people of Northern Ireland. There is a promise in that to protect Lough Neagh and the environment, and it must be fulfilled. The issue is fundamental to the Executive and these institutions, because politics is about leadership.”
“<BR /> <BR />The thick layer of blue-green algae in and around fishing quays has disrupted the operation of commercial fisheries. The thick build-ups will also impact on recreational angling. The advice is to take extreme care when working and fishing around algae blooms. The Lough Neagh fisheries are an important part of the rural economy around Lough Neagh and must be protected in the long term. The closure of the eel fishery is an ongoing concern. While other fisheries have been able to continue, I am aware of the real impact on the eel fishery. What has happened is historic. Eel fishing is part of our culture and the heritage of the communities around the lough. I am working with representatives of the eel fishermen to see how my Department can support them, and we are doing that.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important motion and reaffirm my commitment and that of my Department to the protection and restoration of Lough Neagh and its wider catchment. It has been truly heartbreaking this summer to witness yet again the scenes of a lough being suffocated by human-induced blue-green algae blooms. The decline in the eel industry, which has been talked about today, shows the real and tragic impacts of the ecological crisis. We have seen a rise in blue-green algae blooms affecting not only Lough Neagh and its catchment but beaches and bathing waters along the north coast. It concerns me greatly that there were 163 confirmed reports of blue-green algae from 78 unique locations across Northern Ireland as of 4 September, with the blooms being reported in two new locations since 28 August.”
“It is important that we do that. <BR /> <BR />Alongside that, there are many other measures that we can take on the three pillars of people, cattle and wildlife. I commend the stakeholder group, which involves the farming industry and environmental groups working together to deliver those interventions. I will continue to support the Chief Veterinary Officer as the chair of that group.”
“I will deal with those questions in two parts. There is the consideration of a pilot on TB that DEFRA is progressing. We are watching that closely as it progresses. <BR /> <BR />I as Minister and we as a Department have to take lessons from the previous judicial review on wildlife intervention. It would be negligent if we did not. It is important that, when we proceed to a consultation, it is done correctly. The worst thing for me, as Minister, would be to lead people down a garden path to a situation where we are not able to deliver a resolution to the issue. I am not about that; I am about being honest with people about the challenges that we face and doing things correctly. We will go out to consult on a wildlife intervention. I encourage everyone to feed into that, and we will take decisions on the back of the consultation.”
“Therefore, I need a significant increase to the just transition fund for agriculture. If we are going to talk about a just transition, I need the funding to assist farmers.”
“It will be new and additional capital funding to support farmers and agriculture more broadly in Northern Ireland. What does that mean? It means my seeking funding for a sustainable farm investment scheme so that we can assist farmers in taking up technologies that will allow us to reduce our nutrient loss into waterways and reduce ammonia emissions. That assistance can include grant funding for low-emission slurry spreading equipment (LESSE) technology. I need the funding for that so that I can assist farmers on the road ahead, and I will continue to engage with the Finance Minister on it. <BR /> <BR />However, it goes beyond that. There are many other technology interventions that we can make to improve the environment for Northern Ireland and assist with on-farm productivity.”
“There is a commitment in the climate change legislation to set up a just transition fund for agriculture. I made a bid, alongside the Finance Minister, to the UK Government for funding for that as part of the Budget that the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in October last year. That bid was not successful, so I engaged with the Finance Minister locally and managed to secure over £12 million for a just transition fund for agriculture. <BR /> <BR />It is very important that we understand that just transition is about not just our climate obligations but the environment more broadly. I have engaged and will continue to engage with the Finance Minister because I want to see that just transition fund for agriculture increased.”
“As we move forward, there is a need for continuing engagement, particularly on equine welfare. We are very aware of that through our obligations in animal health law, North and South.”
“There has been significant engagement on that, particularly on avian influenza. We ensure that we move together on that and have collective messaging. We have also been engaging on bluetongue. We decided to make the vaccine available in the North. Ministers in the South decided not to, but we did that through a process of communication, respecting the different decisions on that.”
“The key focus is on working together, North and South. We do a lot through the North/South Ministerial Council but officials also do that on a regular basis. The key concern for me is, as I have outlined, movements of products into GB and the inadequacy of the border target operating model (BTOM). That concern has been raised not just by me but by the Scottish and the Welsh. That needs to change, and we have been engaging collectively with DEFRA on that because we need to make sure that those products do not come into Northern Ireland. We have a fantastic agri-food system. We should be very proud of the high standards of animal welfare here and the quality of the food that we produce, and we should not allow them to be undermined by illegal imports.”
“<BR /> <BR />Once we have UK and EU agreement in place, there will, obviously, be reduced checks between GB and NI. That is welcome and, I think, something that we all want, but there is concern around biosecurity, and we need to reiterate its importance. Alongside that, we need to work North/South because we are a single epidemiological area, and the Chief Veterinary Officers, North and South, continue to work on those issues.”
“It is really important that there is an emphasis on biosecurity because avian influenza can have a significant impact on farming. There have been good working relations but the impact would be significant. <BR /> <BR />Another issue, which was covered on 'Farming Today' on BBC Radio 4 yesterday, is biosecurity with regard to the movement of illegal meat products from the European continent into GB, and the potential for them to arrive in Northern Ireland. Alistair Carmichael, Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, outlined the Committee's concerns about the movement of such products into Dover. I will continue to engage with the UK Government on their need to strengthen biosecurity in GB because the potential for those products to arrive in Northern Ireland is a real concern.”
“I thank the Member for his question. That is a key issue for us. I outlined in the environment sector statement the concerns that exist about the situation in Cork with the Asian hornet. I made a statement just before recess about the threats to us in Northern Ireland from that, and I want to take a moment to talk about them. <BR /> <BR />We had foot-and-mouth disease on the European continent. I have not heard many reports about that of late but that does cause me concern. We had bluetongue, so I have made the vaccine available if people want to use it. Vigilance is paramount because the risk of that arriving in Northern Ireland remains, which is of concern. We are moving into autumn and winter, and we know the impact that avian influenza had last season.”
“Investment area 4.2, entitled "Rural Regeneration and Social Inclusion", has a budget of €50 million and aims to support social, economic and environmental projects to create healthy rural communities. Letters of offer have been issued to successful projects under call 1 of investment area 2.4 and investment area 4.2. The steering committee of call 2 on investment area 2.4 will meet in October of this year, after which successful projects will be notified.”
“That is no problem. The PEACE PLUS funding is something that I have been very grateful for, and it is something that, together, we can deliver on the ground to people. DAERA is partnering with DRCDG and SEUPB, the Special EU Programmes Body — apologies for all the acronyms — to provide funding of €80 million to two PEACE PLUS investment areas that focus on rural issues. That partnership means that we can achieve much more by contributing to resilient, vibrant and prosperous rural communities in which people want to live, work, visit and invest. Investment area 2.4, entitled, "Smart Towns and Villages", has a budget of €30 million and aims to help citizens and communities to access and utilise information and communication technology.”
“We are happy to engage — we will engage through the stakeholder group — about any other measures that we can use to drive this down, and we are preparing to consult on a wildlife intervention strategy. I have been clear, and I reiterate it today: wildlife intervention is not optional; it must occur. However, when we are doing the consultation and formulating it, we need to do it correctly, because it is important that we deliver an intervention that is legally robust.”
“I agree with the Member entirely — this is a positive question time — because it is a key issue for the farming community in Northern Ireland. The levels are not sustainable, and the continued rise causes me a great concern, due to the impact on family farming in Northern Ireland, agriculture more broadly and the Department. I thank the Finance Minister for the financial support that he has given me, which has allowed us to keep the compensation, but we have to drive down the incidence. Ultimately, the only way that we are going to do that is by doing it together. I had a constructive meeting with the Ulster Farmers' Union on the issue — hearing feedback on what we are doing.”
“I have made a clear case to the Finance Minister that rural development should be a key feature of any future funding arrangements to replace the funds that we had during membership of the European Union, and we will continue to engage on that. It is important that we deliver that support to rural communities, and we will continue to roll out well-established schemes, such as the tackling rural poverty and social isolation framework (TRPSI). It is important that we deliver that to rural communities.”
“That is an important issue, because, post Brexit, the loss of the rural development programme is something that has not, perhaps, been given as much of a profile. It was significant funding that supported rural communities across Northern Ireland, and we lost it as a result of Brexit. It is one of the many consequences of Brexit that have been felt across Northern Ireland. We are working together, particularly in relation to PEACE PLUS initiatives, to support rural communities. We are also co-designing a future rural policy for Northern Ireland. Hopefully, we will go out to consult on that soon so that we can get views taken. We are also engaging, through the Department of Finance, on future funding arrangements. We have had follow-on funding from EU funding, such as the Levelling Up Fund, for instance.”
“We also need to drive down the incidence so that we can deal with the impact that it has on family farms in Northern Ireland.”
“Thank you, Diana. I am happy to consider any invites, but matching them with my diary can be a challenge. <BR /> <BR />It has been outlined that there will be further announcements from DAFM, this week, regarding an all-island approach around TB. There has been engagement with DAFM, at official level and Minister to Minister, on a Shared Island initiative for tackling TB on an all-Ireland basis. There is real opportunity around that. I am keen to get that across the line as soon as we can, because it will be a practical measure that will help farmers, North and South. I will continue to engage with Minister Heydon on that, because it is critical that we drive down the prevalence of TB. I have given a commitment that, as long as I have the budget, we will continue the 100% compensation, but that is not good enough.”
“<BR /> <BR />My ambition is that Farming with Nature will be rolled out and that the cliff edge with the environmental farming scheme (EFS) be addressed, because doing that is key. Alongside that, we must deliver a sheep support scheme. If we get the farm sustainability payment and the farm sustainability standards agreed, we can deliver sheep support for people in Northern Ireland. Let us work together, collectively; let us deliver this flagship policy of support; and let us deliver a prosperous and bright future for farming in Northern Ireland.”