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, again, acknowledge the concerns raised around that, because the mushroom industry is an important part of our agri-food sector in Northern Ireland. The AERA Committee heard how the mushroom industry, a key beneficiary of the FVAS over many years, is at a disadvantage because the rules have not stood still elsewhere. The Bill is essential to ensure that there is scope to make changes to and improve the scheme. Similarly, the Bill will give powers to amend legacy EU rules on agri-food promotions, should it be necessary to use them.”
“Thank you, Principal Deputy Speaker. I thank the Committee Chair and members for their contributions in the debate. I want to say to John that he has been in our thoughts and prayers, following the passing of his dad. John, you spoke very courageously at the funeral, and I am so proud of you. We are thinking of you and your family, especially your mum and sister. <BR /> <BR />Before I close the debate, I will respond to a few of the issues that were raised by Members. It is important and only right and proper that I do so. The first is about future support for the mushroom industry. Much of what was said today was about concerns about making support discretionary and about long-term support for the mushroom industry.”
“The Bill's powers, of course, provide scope to amend legacy legislation, which would otherwise not be possible. <BR /> <BR />I again thank the Chairperson and members of the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee and others for their input on the matter and to the debate today. As I said, I understand the motivation behind the concerns raised during the Bill's passage, and I am pleased to be able to provide Members with the necessary reassurance.”
“The Committee heard from the mushroom industry that supporting smaller producers is a strength of the fruit and veg aid scheme. That is a key driver in the development of the pilot horticulture proposals. I therefore support those recommendations. <BR /> <BR />Of course, the enabling powers in the Bill are essential to ensure that the scheme rules reflect developing policy and respond to issues raised about the scheme during the current review. I envisage incremental changes being made in parallel with the development of future support and ongoing policy development. <BR /> <BR />Finally, the Committee recommends that a balance be sought between a range of beneficiaries in developing future agri-food promotion schemes. I am content that that matter will be considered as part of wider policy developments under the food strategy framework.”
“With respect to horticulture policy and support more widely, the report makes recommendations linked to matters that are being considered as part of the review of fruit and veg aid, including how the legacy scheme fits with DAERA's strategic priorities and support for the sector. The review has also examined why the PO model has mainly been of interest to only one subsector here. The key reason is the reluctance of some to collaborate, which has been recognised and addressed by other policy measures, including the horticulture pilot schemes and the forthcoming supply chain measures. However, the making of any changes to the PO model is a reserved matter for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Ministers.”
“That is one of the key reasons for seeking the powers. Of course, making any changes relies on having not only the powers to do so, which the Bill provides, but the budget available to fund them.”
“Furthermore, the food and veg aid scheme itself provides support for new technologies, and the Bill's powers could provide for more favourable funding levels.”
“Those are issues, however, that can be developed, consulted on and brought forward for the Assembly's consideration only once the powers are in place, which is a point that I made at Consideration Stage. There will then be scope to use the powers to make further changes over time in line with developing policy. Nevertheless, I will take cognisance of the recommendation in bringing forward future proposals for primary legislation. <BR /> <BR />I am content to accept the general principle behind the Committee recommendations on supporting innovation and new technology and helping local growers remain competitive. DAERA proposes a suite of innovation schemes, including the pilot innovation driver and support scheme, which is to be targeted specifically at the horticulture sector. That scheme should be open from spring 2026.”
“It is not unusual for an enabling Bill to contain limited policy detail, as such Bills provide scope for future decisions arising from policy development to be reflected in subordinate legislation, often made over many years. For example, DAERA is relying on powers in the Agriculture Act (Northern Ireland) 1949 for its current sustainable agriculture programme schemes, the details of which could not have been foreseen in 1949. That said, we are not starting with a blank page with the Bill. The powers are to amend existing legislation, as set out in the evidence, and changes to the existing rules could include simplification or alignment with rules elsewhere to help ensure a level playing field for our growers and their competitors.”
“<BR /> <BR />As I said, the Bill does not close the scheme, nor is it a policy signal that the scheme is to end. To close the scheme fully would require using the powers in the Bill, with the adequate safeguard that that would require the Assembly's approval. That is likely to be acceptable to the Assembly only when an appropriate successor scheme has been designed. I am pleased that the AERA Committee and the mushroom industry have been reassured enough to support the Bill thus far. <BR /> <BR />I turn briefly to recommendations in the Committee report, as this is the first chance that I have had to acknowledge them. The first recommendation relates to the nature of the Bill.”
“I cannot stop that happening without the powers in the Bill. Joining a PO here could be attractive to the UK horticulture sector, given the closure of the scheme elsewhere. I am therefore grateful to Members for their support of clause 1 at Consideration Stage, and I am confident that Members will wish to support me in making sure that Northern Ireland funding is used for the benefit of local growers by supporting the Bill today. To do otherwise would mean that any extra money required would come from the budget earmarked for agriculture, agrienvironment, fisheries and rural development. That would inevitably impact on other sectors, and there would be no scope for me to make policy choices or to bring any forth for Members' consideration. It is a legacy of EU membership, but it is not sustainable in a domestic context.”
“<BR /> <BR />I welcome the acknowledgement of Members and, in recent correspondence, representatives of the mushroom industry of the potential budgetary implications of leaving things as they are under the legacy legislation. Simply put, as it stands, there is no effective cap on the funding that my Department can be asked for to support the scheme. I have no control over the level of funding that POs may look for in the future, as it relates to their business plans, and I have no control over the number of POs that may set up an office in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Without the Bill, there is a risk that my Department will be liable to provide funding that will benefit non-Northern Ireland-based growers. That could happen if they are members of a PO with a head office here or if, at a later stage, they join a PO that is based here.”
“That is different from the situation in England, where legislation has been in place for some time to stop English POs submitting further operational programmes for approval after 2025, or, indeed, in Wales, where the Welsh Government are consulting on a plan to close the scheme there. I confirmed in March that the fruit and veg aid scheme was to continue here after the end of the current year, just as stakeholders had asked for in the consultation on the Bill. That will mean DAERA supporting POs with a head office in Northern Ireland as they undertake a new three-year operational programme, which is to commence in January 2026. I am pleased to confirm that officials are working with stakeholders to facilitate that programme within the timeline set out in existing legislation.”
“<BR /> <BR />The AERA Committee heard from the mushroom industry that it was concerned that making aid discretionary was a signal that the scheme would be closed here. The mushroom industry highlighted the importance of the scheme to it and, importantly, called for it to continue after the end of the current operational programming period. I acknowledge those concerns, which some Members raised during the Bill's passage. Since the Bill's introduction, however, I have been clear that I have no plans to close the scheme, and nothing in the Bill signalled that that was the case.”
“<BR /> <BR />With respect to the first matter — discretion — DAERA grant funding is normally provided in accordance with the Department's strategic priorities, subject to suitable legal authority and appropriate business case. However, in the case of fruit and veg aid, that cannot be the case, given that the current obligation is to fund all eligible claims from producer organisations with a head office here. As I said, that is a legacy of the legislation that stemmed from the EU when the EU provided the funding. The Bill therefore removes the requirement for all eligible claims to be funded so that my Department to continue to support the horticulture sector on a discretionary, case-by-case basis.”
“Furthermore, while some changes were made to the legislation that governs the scheme when it was transferred into UK law, they simply made the legislation operable outside the EU. A lack of power to amend the scheme to align with Northern Ireland's specific policy priorities is a further legacy issue. The Bill therefore seeks to deal with those legacies by making fruit and veg aid funding discretionary and providing the scope to amend the law governing that scheme as well as governing agri-food promotions. That will allow changes to align to policy development now that the UK is no longer a member of the European Union.”
“Farmers and growers can come together to form a producer organisation (PO) to strengthen their position in a supply chain and increase their competitiveness. While POs may form in a range of sectors and gain the advantages from doing so, the horticulture sector can also avail itself of funding support thanks to the fruit and veg aid scheme. <BR /> <BR />Importantly, prior to Brexit, the EU funded all claims that met the legislative requirements. Given that agricultural support is devolved, each part of the UK is responsible for funding in its own jurisdiction. That obligation has, since Brexit, fallen on DAERA for POs with a head office here. That is a legacy of EU membership.”
“I am grateful to the Committee for testing the Bill so rigorously, as is its duty. I welcome the Committee's support for the Bill, but I am aware that some issues were raised during its scrutiny. I will come to those in a moment; it is important that I do so. However, if I may, I will begin with a little context and say a few brief words about why the Agriculture Bill was brought to the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />The fruit and veg aid scheme is a legacy of EU membership. It stems from EU law that applied to all member states, including the UK, when aid was provided to EU beneficiaries to meet EU policies and priorities. That legislation was converted into UK law and amended to operate in the UK context as assimilated law.”
“I am pleased that the Bill, which will provide for changes to two legacy EU support schemes, namely the fruit and vegetables aid scheme (FVAS) and the agri-food information and promotions scheme, has reached its Final Stage. Before I speak to the Bill, I thank the Chairperson and members of the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee for their detailed scrutiny of the Bill. I also thank the Office of the Legislative Counsel (OLC), legal advisers and Assembly staff, as well as officials in my Department, for their work in getting this small but technical Bill to this stage. Finally, my thanks go to the stakeholders who invested time to respond to the consultation, provide evidence to the Committee and, more generally, feed into the Department's review of the fruit and veg aid scheme.”
“A new working group will also be established to pull together relevant stakeholders and fully consider a potential road map and requirements for any new secondary legislation to prohibit the possession of dangerous pesticides in Northern Ireland in the next Assembly mandate.”
“The killing of birds of prey, whether deliberately or through the improper use of pesticides or other poisons, is deplorable. It is a crime, and it diminishes our biodiversity. I met the Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group, the RSPB and Ulster Wildlife last week to discuss the issue. I recognise the need to address the persecution of birds of prey in Northern Ireland and am determined to take more action to help stamp out that repugnant activity. <BR /> <BR />My Department is exploring ways to strengthen enforcement and sanctions for the current plant protection product legislation relating to the storage and use of unauthorised plant protection products.”
“It is an Executive flagship project, but we have to do it in a legally robust manner.”
“I agree. The judgement sets it out that section 52 does not prevent a major infrastructure project that is a source of significant greenhouse gas emissions from being devised, promoted, constructed and put into operation by DFI or any other Northern Ireland Department with responsibility for such activities. However, it clearly rules out the construction or operation of such a major project in the absence of robust planning, synchronisation and coordination between all Northern Ireland Departments to ensure that the project fits into plans, strategies and policies that set out a realistic and achievable pathway to achieving net zero by 2050. The challenge for us is to achieve that, and I am determined to work with Executive Ministers to deliver that. I am committed to the A5 project.”
“I met the Infrastructure Minister last Tuesday. I also wrote to her at the end of last week about the issue. The issue was also raised in the Chamber with regard to farmers who have been affected as a result of the vesting of land. My officials will continue to work with the Department for Infrastructure, and I will continue to work with the Infrastructure Minister in response to the judgement. <BR /> <BR />Ultimately, the measure of success of the Executive has to be how we work together on the issues and challenges that face us. I am determined to do that not just with the Infrastructure Minister but with the Economy Minister, the Communities Minister and the full Executive. We have to work together to work through the issues. It is clear that we can do so, if there is a collective will to address the issues arising from the judgement.”
“The Lough Neagh report and action plan sets out a range of actions that we plan to take or have already taken. That applies not just to Lough Neagh but to other waterbodies. The river basin management plan has also been agreed and sets out further actions. Fundamentally, it comes down to simple but difficult decisions, which is that we need to reduce the amount of sewage pollution going into our rivers, lakes and loughs. We also need to have better ways of managing slurry, manure and synthetic fertilisers in Northern Ireland. We also need to have better management of septic tanks. I believe that we can do it. It is difficult, but we can do it and find a way forward to improve water quality in Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />Government in Northern Ireland has to be more than photographs; it has to be about decisions. That is why I am keen to find a way forward to improve water quality in Northern Ireland, and I urge people to work with us on that.”
“The Northern Ireland Environment Agency confirmed the presence of blue-green algae at Hillsborough Lake on 17 June, highlighting yet again that it is not just a challenge in Lough Neagh. It is no surprise, unfortunately, that the algae have reappeared in waterways this year, given the weather conditions, and I expect it to continue to reappear. My Department's protocol, which is in place to respond, is the inter-agency blue-green algae monitoring protocol. It was developed and used operationally for the 2024 bathing season and provided a sound framework for responding to the issues. On DAERA's website, you can see where locations have been reported, and I encourage the public to report any suspected blooms through the Bloomin Algae app or the email address, which is available on our website, with a photograph of the blooms.”
“I have considered that. I have seen the feedback on the draft proposals in the current consultation for 100% LESSE by 2030. I hear those concerns. I want to engage and find a way forward. I am open-minded, because it is a consultation. I have set out a genuine path ahead, and I just hope that people can come with me on it. I have a genuine desire to find a resolution, because we owe it to farming to provide a sustainable way forward so that agriculture can have a successful future, but we must improve water quality in Northern Ireland. I was so disappointed and despondent at the vote a few weeks ago by all parties in the Assembly other than the SDLP, Alliance and Gerry Carroll on the issue, but I hope that we can put that in the past and find a way forward. I do not want stand-offs and stalemates on it: I want progress.”
“If the Finance Minister and I can work together, we will hopefully be able to provide support — for example, for low-emission slurry spreading equipment (LESSE) equipment — and help farmers on the road ahead. <BR /> <BR />It is an important issue, and I will say in conclusion that what we have consulted on will not be the final package. I can say that with confidence because it is a consultation. I have been listening to people's concerns. I am very keen to ensure that we have something that is workable at farm level but has realistic time frames and meets our legal obligations.”
“We will then go forward to a further consultation, which will include an economic assessment of the impact of the proposed measures. <BR /> <BR />That is a genuine effort to find a way forward. I owe it to everyone in Northern Ireland, particularly the farming community, to shape a way forward that gives people confidence in the nutrients action programme. I understand the concerns that have been expressed. I am a genuine kind of person: I have been listening, and I am trying to find a way forward. A lot of discussions have taken place, and, as I have said previously, I will wish to be able to provide financial capital support. The key determinant of that will be the budget that is allocated to my Department.”
“The consultation has received nearly 200 responses. I get farmers' concerns about the nutrients action programme consultation. The proposals are complex, and the documentation goes to over 1,000 pages. I am listening to those concerns. That is why, as I have outlined today, once the consultation closes in the next few weeks, we will set up a stakeholder group. It will have an independent external facilitator who will go through the responses and anything else that comes back. <BR /> <BR />Let us be clear that nothing is off the table. If anyone else has any proposals, I am happy for those to be considered by the group. I will ask the group to come back to me with proposals that are workable at farm level and have realistic time frames alongside our legislative obligations.”
“I can already hear my diary secretary asking, "When?, but I am happy to accept.”
“The Department engages primarily on how we support forest parks through providing advice or financial support. Forest parks play a vital role in Northern Ireland. They are important for recreation but also for the environment. I am keen to support that. If the Member wishes me to visit a particular park, I am happy to do so.”
“Yes, I am actively considering that. There was a meeting with stakeholders on Friday, and I have asked officials for an urgent update on the outcome of that meeting. I will take a decision in the very near future.”
“I am very conscious of the concerns around bluetongue, particularly the decision that movement restrictions will no longer apply in England, which will take effect from 1 July. That has caused me concern. My Department recently published a framework for our response to bluetongue. We are engaging with stakeholders on whether we make a vaccine available as a preventative measure. It is important that we take action. The biggest role that we can play is in raising awareness, because early reporting will help us to tackle it in Northern Ireland.”
“There are many examples of good work being done on that. We want to redouble our efforts as part of the peatland strategy, so that we can rewet peatlands. That will also address a lot of the issues that have been outlined on fires in our countryside. A lot of environmental and non-governmental organisations are playing a good role in that area, and the strategy seeks to work in partnership with them to meet the targets that the environmental improvement plan sets out.”
“Thank you very much. The peatland strategy went to the Executive some weeks ago. It will have massive benefits for Northern Ireland, particularly in relation to carbon capture, the restoration of protected areas and the prevention of fires in our countryside. That is why I want to get agreement on it. Good work has been done on peatland restoration, but we need to do more. The strategy sets that out.”
“That does not help us as we try to drive along a road towards decarbonisation. We need to take action on it. We should not have lost two years in moving forward. We also need to work together to drive down greenhouse gas emissions in Northern Ireland, and the A5 can play a part in that.”
“Thank you, Patsy. I will check with officials and write to you, because I do not have the dates in front of me. There was engagement, however. Primarily, the Department for Infrastructure is the lead on the A5 project. It is important that we consider the judgement as a whole. There are 100 pages of it. I have read all the detail and have highlighted all the relevant aspects of it. It is important that the Department for Infrastructure goes through it and carefully considers the way forward after that significant judgement. <BR /> <BR />A lot of misleading and untruthful information has been given about climate change legislation with regard to the A5. Climate inaction and climate denial have contributed to the issue. Senior members of the DUP are in denial about climate change in Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />Since coming into office, I have met each Minister who carries responsibility as the sectoral lead — the Minister for Infrastructure, the Minister for Communities and the Minister for the Economy — and I have also met the Finance Minister. At no point during those meetings, despite our recognising that it is not without its challenges, was there any lack of support for working together on our responsibilities as set out in the Act. As the judge noted, the challenge now is for all Ministers and their officials to "redouble their efforts" and to finalise the climate action plan that is already "long overdue". That is where the focus needs to be in the time ahead.”
“Thank you very much, Patsy. The A5 is a key concern for everyone in Northern Ireland. I am taking time to carefully consider the judgement that was handed down, and I encourage others to do likewise. As part of my considerations, I am engaging with Minister Kimmins, and our officials are engaging across both Departments. The judge stated that the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 does not prevent major infrastructure projects from being undertaken but that they must fit alongside existing plans and strategies as part of a pathway to meeting carbon budgets and targets. It therefore remains important that we work together to deliver our statutory responsibilities as set out in the Climate Change Act, which was passed by the Assembly in March 2022.”
“The number of businesses that applied for the young farmers' payment from 2023 to 2025 is as follows: in 2023, 181 young farmers' applications were received, with 145 being accepted; in 2024, 195 applications were received, and 164 were accepted; and, in 2025, 358 applications were received, and the number accepted is not yet known.”
“<BR /> <BR />This is a genuine effort on my part to try to find a way forward on the nutrients action programme. I have listened to concerns, but I am also conscious of the fact that we have a crisis in Lough Neagh. I really hope that people get on board with the process that I have set out so that we can turn the tide on water quality in Lough Neagh. If we cannot do that, the Programme for Government that we published is not worth the paper that it is written on.”
“When the consultation closes in the next few weeks, the Department will set up a time-bound stakeholder task and finish group, with an external facilitator and representatives from farming, agri-food, environmental groups and the Department. Working collaboratively and taking into account the consultation responses, plus any other potential solutions, the group will be asked to propose measures and actions that are evidence-based and workable at farm level with realistic time frames while allowing us to meet our legislative requirements. Following the work of that group, in the spirit of openness and transparency, I also intend to undertake a further eight-week public consultation on those updated proposals and then bring final recommendations to the Executive.”
“I have outlined what I intend to do on sewage pollution to strengthen the regulation and enforcement. I will bring that to the Executive and look for support for it, because I believe in fairness, and, if people believe that it is wrong that there is a separate regime for sewage pollution, they need to back my plans in order to bring an end to the statement of regulatory principles and intent, which is the bye ball that NI Water gets. <BR /> <BR />I was deeply disappointed at the stance that some parties took in the recent debate on the nutrients action programme. However, I owe it to the people of Northern Ireland not to play politics with that but to try to find a way forward on the nutrients action programme. That is why I have clearly set out a pathway for it.”
“As Minister, I am doing all that I can on that. I have been clear and have put on the record that the statement of regulatory principles and intent (SORPI) is not fit for purpose. A consultation is under way on that between DFI and NI Water that closes at the beginning of next month. I will then take recommendations to the Executive on how we can strengthen regulation and enforcement on sewage pollution in Northern Ireland. It is not acceptable that NI Water gets a separate regulatory regime to everyone else, and it is about time that we called time on that.”
“<BR /> <BR />I met the cooperative on a number of occasions, and it is looking to pull together the information that will help me to provide the support that we are going to have to provide to fishermen in the lough. Let me say that the story of eel fishing in Lough Neagh that has been emerging in the past number of weeks breaks my heart. If there ever were an example of a link between cause and effect, this is it. I am trying my best to turn the situation in Lough Neagh around. All that I ask from Members is a bit of flexibility and that they work with me on the matter. If we do not work together, those situations will get worse.”
“The Lough Neagh Fishermen's Co-operative's suspension of eel fishing remains in place until the week commencing 14 July, as the Member is aware. The society will provide test fish to the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in the coming weeks. Scale fishing continues in the lough, and DAERA continues to monitor the situation. <BR /> <BR />I remain committed to providing whatever support is practical and affordable to eel fisheries, including support through existing grant schemes and any potential new grant schemes. Any case for direct financial support for the shortened fishing season will need to be robustly supported with scientific and financial evidence for the scheme and the impact of the scale of losses that are endured.”
“NIEA is developing a Lough Neagh conservation management plan to establish the necessary conservation measures to help the lough ecosystem achieve a new equilibrium and improved conservation status for its habitats and species. <BR /> <BR />With respect to the Lough Neagh report and action plan that were agreed by the Executive in July last year, of the 37 actions contained in the plan, I am pleased to report that 14 have been delivered and 22 are progressing. I am committed to driving forward the implementation of the remaining actions.”
“Mr Speaker, with your permission, I will group questions 9 and 14 together. I will provide you first with an assessment of the current ecological status of Lough Neagh and then an update on the progress made on the Lough Neagh report and action plan. <BR /> <BR />The 2024 water quality classification for rivers, lakes and marine waterbodies that was published by my Department in February 2025 showed that, in 2024, water quality in Lough Neagh was assessed as being of poor ecological status. It is clear that the Lough Neagh ecosystem has changed due to a range of pressures and threats, including a warming climate, eutrophication and invasive species.”