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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“Based on the information provided by councils, dog pounds in Northern Ireland fall into three categories: those that are operated by councils; those that are operated on behalf of councils by rehoming-type organisations; and those that are operated on behalf of councils by commercial boarding kennels. The Dogs Order states that, when a council chooses to use a commercial boarding kennel as a pound, the boarding kennel must have a valid licence to act as a boarding kennel. The licence is provided by my Department and is conferred on the business only after it successfully completes an inspection. If a council continues to use a rehoming centre, I anticipate that the forthcoming proposal under my animal welfare pathway will require the rehoming organisation to have a licence.”
“I am pleased to say that I have talked about that requirement with representatives from the Dogs Trust, and, as highlighted, with the Northern Ireland Companion Animal Welfare Group late last year. That is why a key component of my animal welfare pathway, which will be launched very soon, will involve bringing legislation to the House to mandate the inspection and licensing of rescue and rehoming organisations. The legislation has the potential to raise standards across the sector and any proposals will be subject to public consultation in due course. <BR /> <BR />At this stage, I am not minded to require dog pounds to be licensed.”
“Furthermore, there are regular meetings with council representatives on the Northern Ireland Dog Advisory Group. My officials have liaised extensively with the group on dog control and ownership matters, and I have previously attended dog warden conferences. My Department also hosts regular multi-agency meetings with the councils and the police to share experiences and coordinate responses where necessary. Our councils remain an integral part of the Paws for Thought group, which continues to work collaboratively to disrupt the trafficking of low-welfare pups to Great Britain. I hope that we can deepen that cooperation through my desire to launch a campaign to promote responsible dog ownership. <BR /> <BR />The Dogs Trust is absolutely correct to call for animal welfare establishments to be inspected and licensed.”
“I am concerned that the thrust of the motion would see me take that ability away from democratically elected councils — on which nearly every party in the Chamber has representatives — and have central government impose a one-size-fits-all policy. I disagree with that. Crucially, officials from my Department have not been advised by council officers that any immediate reform of the legislation is needed to deal with stray dogs. If Members have concerns about service delivery or performance by their local councils, I urge them to elevate them through the appropriate channels, including via the relevant councils and councillors. <BR /> <BR />My Department supports councils by meeting regularly with council officers to provide guidance and share understanding of how dog control and animal welfare legislation should operate.”
“Councils say that they will only euthanise a dog when it is clear that the dog cannot be rehomed because it has an illness or injuries from which it is not likely to recover, is aggressive or has been involved in attacks. <BR /> <BR />The bottom line is that the power to put a stray dog down after five days is a discretionary one that each council uses sparingly. I disagree with the motion, which suggests that the best course of action is for me, as Minister, to intervene and remove the decision-making powers from councils. Each council has the scope to shape and deploy an enforcement strategy that meets local needs, and that is only right.”
“In fact, some council pounds are operated by rescue organisations. <BR /> <BR />Each of the 11 councils has advised my Department that the preferred course of action is to find a new home for unclaimed stray dogs. In the 2023-24 reporting period, the 11 councils impounded almost 3,000 stray dogs. Of those dogs, 40% were returned to the owner or reclaimed; 43% were passed to animal shelters; 13% were rehomed directly, sold or moved on by the council pounds; and only 4% were, sadly, euthanised. It is regrettable that any dog has to be euthanised, but councils have informed my Department that there are some situations in which that is, sadly, the only course of action.”
“When the Dogs Order was debated in Westminster in the early 1980s, there was a well-documented problem with stray dogs in Northern Ireland. Indeed, that is confirmed in an edition of 'Scene Around Six' from 11 March 1982 — a programme that some people may be aware of — that can be seen in BBC Archive footage. We do not have similar scenes today because of the effectiveness of councils' dog warden services. <BR /> <BR />How our councils have evolved their service delivery to reflect the changing times is notable. When a stray dog is collected by the dog warden, euthanasia is not the immediate response. Councils and their dog wardens have worked tirelessly to build contacts with communities, and, crucially, with rescue and rehoming centres. Indeed, each council has strong relationships with rescue and rehoming centres.”
“Dog wardens, for example, keep our streets, parks and livestock safe by dealing with out-of-control or stray dogs. Regrettably, dog wardens are at the forefront of dealing with a minority of irresponsible owners who do not care for their dogs or the lives of others and have no regard for the dog control laws.”
“We can have a discussion on that, but we are focused on the actions that we can take now. I have real and serious concerns. I recognise the issues raised in the motion, but issues are regularly raised with me about breeding establishments and the third-party sale of puppies and kittens. That is where the concerns coming to me are, and that is what we are seeking to respond to. <BR /> <BR />I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the, often unheralded, work of council dog wardens and animal welfare officers. Neither has an easy task.”
“What we are talking about is primary legislation, and, yes, of course you can amend primary legislation. With regard to the animal welfare pathway that we are outlining for the rest of the mandate, however, I lost two years of the mandate because one party downed tools and walked out because the going got tough. I am trying to catch up on that time, and I have to be clear about what I can achieve in the mandate. I would like to do lots more, including primary legislation, but I am not able to do that within the shortened mandate. We have outlined what we plan to do with the animal pathway, and I will talk a bit more about that. <BR /> <BR />If these institutions stay up, there will be, obviously, an opportunity to introduce primary legislation on this issue in the next mandate.”
“<BR /> <BR />When the Dogs Order was passed in 1983, and then, when the Welfare of Animals Act made its way through the House in 2011, it was recognised that councils were best placed to deliver dog control and animal welfare enforcement services. That is because councils have the ability to understand local circumstances and to deliver services for citizens that are appropriate to their localities.”
“My Department is responsible for enforcing all farmed animal welfare legislation and legislation relating to the transport and slaughter of animals. My Department is responsible for dog control and animal welfare policy and legislation. However, my Department is not responsible for the enforcement of legislation, and it is clearly and legally not the statutory agency. That power and responsibility lie fully with district councils. Therefore, it is not appropriate for my Department to direct councils on how to deploy dog wardens or animal welfare officers, nor does my Department instruct councils in how they discharge their legal duties to deal with stray dogs or investigate the abuse of companion animals.”
“I am continually impressed by the fantastic work undertaken by the sector, which is why I was delighted to meet, late last year, the Northern Ireland Companion Animal Welfare Group (NICAWG) and seek its views on my forthcoming animal welfare pathway. It is crucial that the sector and government work together to advance the changes necessary to deliver the best animal welfare standards. I am pleased to learn that the Dogs Trust was recently appointed chair of the group, and I am looking forward to visiting its rehoming centre in Ballymena very soon. <BR /> <BR />In addressing the motion, I feel that it would be beneficial for Members if I set out the responsibilities of my Department when it comes to dog control and animal welfare.”
“Thank you very much, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. At the outset, I want to put on record that I am fully supportive of any actions that we can take to advance the welfare of animals. Indeed, when I took up the post, I made it clear from day 1 that animal welfare was one of my priorities. I was therefore pleased that one of my first engagements as Minister was a visit to the rescue and rehoming centre run by the USPCA in Newry. <BR /> <BR />I agree with the sentiment outlined at the start of the motion. I passionately believe that all dogs in Northern Ireland should be subject to the highest standards of welfare, and I have no hesitation in commending the work of all the organisations involved in rescuing, rehoming and rehabilitating dogs so that they can find new, trusting and forever homes.”
“I am not kicking any can down the road. I am abiding by process and taking into account the outcome of the previous judicial review. It is very important that we do that. One thing that I will do as Minister is be honest with people about things. I will not lead people up the garden path and make them feel as if something is going to happen when I know in my heart that it is not. We have to follow the procedure, science and evidence. We have to make sure that we do not pick and mix the science and evidence. We have to be honest about the situation as it presents to us and consult on that. We will do that at pace, but we will do it right. Many measures are set out in the blueprint, and I know that it will be a stretch for many people in my Department and the farming community, but we owe it to them to work on those issues.”
“It is a significant issue that I inherited as Minister, and I have been open and honest about its challenges, but we owe it to the farming community to drive down the level of infections in herds. The blueprint sets out a way forward for us to do that, and we will consult on measures that come from it, particularly in relation to wildlife, over the time ahead. A lot needs to be done, and I thank stakeholders for sticking with us so that we can work together on it.”
“Thank you, Declan, for raising a key issue for me. I am glad that you have raised it. TB is a vital issue for the farming community in Northern Ireland and for my Department. I thank all the stakeholders who have engaged to agree a blueprint for the future on the issue. Significant work has been undertaken in my Department, led by the Chief Veterinary Officer, and I am grateful for that. <BR /> <BR />Tackling TB requires a holistic approach that has to be based on the three pillars that were set out in the Chief Veterinary Officer's report last year: people, cattle and wildlife. I am committed to doing that. It will take a while to change course.”
“I do not have that information to hand. If I can gather it, I will write to the Member.”
“The responsibility for that sits with the Department for Infrastructure and the Department of Finance. From recollection — I need to check Hansard — I said that I would formally raise the matter with them. I have not done so yet, but I will take that up this week.”
“People often look at this place and not, let us be honest, with a sense of pride. They look to Stormont with frustration at the inability to take difficult decisions and turn things around. The nutrients action programme is about difficult decisions; I acknowledge that. In March last year, I was at Lough Neagh with the First Minister and deputy First Minister, and I set out the fact that difficult interventions would be needed. I will walk with the farming community every step of the way as we turn the situation around, but we need to grasp the proposals and proceed. If we do not, we face a dire future for Northern Ireland. I do not want the scenes that have unfolded for the past two years and again this year to be repeated for the rest of my lifetime. We have to change course.”
“Let me be clear: business as usual in Northern Ireland is not an option. If we do not proceed with the proposals set out in the nutrients action programme, we will consign Lough Neagh and many other water bodies across Northern Ireland to further deterioration and, ultimately, to ecological collapse. The longer we delay taking more stringent measures, the more that they will be required and the more costly the clean-up will be not just for Lough Neagh but for many water bodies across Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />I have thought over it, and I say this: the nutrients action programme is key. The reputation of our agri-food industry is at stake. In Northern Ireland, we are at a crossroads. The nutrients action programme has practical proposals to turn things around.”
“<BR /> <BR />The consultation document states that Northern Ireland agriculture is operating a significant phosphorus surplus. We need to tackle that. There are 28 proposals in the nutrients action programme consultation, which are firmly based on science and evidence. We would do well to look at the consultation and consider the science and evidence behind it. Many of the proposals have been trailed. <BR /> <BR />I understand the importance of education and incentivisation, which are key pillars of the Lough Neagh plan, but we also need stronger regulation and more enforcement if we are to seriously address the environmental catastrophe that is unfolding at Lough Neagh.”
“Nutrients are a key priority for the Office for Environmental Protection, and they are a priority for me because that is a direct action from the Lough Neagh plan. A number of actions, including the consultation on the nutrients action programme and restricting the use of fertiliser with phosphorus, arise directly from that action plan. <BR /> <BR />This is about putting farming and our environment on a sustainable footing. A previous scientific study indicated that poor water quality was attributable as follows: about 62% to agriculture, 24% to waste water and 12% to septic tanks. The NAP is about the 62%, but I do not ignore the contribution that waste water makes. Northern Ireland Water needs to step up. I will be fair but unrelenting in tackling all polluters.”
“Last Thursday, I launched a consultation on the nutrients action programme for Northern Ireland. It is important to set out why I have done so. It is a legal requirement. We should also be aware of the priorities of the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) for the forthcoming year. The chair of the Office for Environmental Protection, Dame Glenys Stacey, recently outlined those priorities:”
“I am aware of the concerns about that. I do not have anything on that to hand, but I will write to you, and, if necessary, we can meet to go over it. I am conscious of the concerns of your constituents — you articulate them eloquently — and I am happy to engage with you on that.”
“Thank you, Colm. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency continues to receive reports of odour relating to Granville Industrial Estate, particularly Granville Ecopark, which is an anaerobic digestion plant. I am aware of the concerns of local residents, and my inspectors in the Northern Ireland Environment Agency continue to work with the company and other permitted sites in the estate to improve the control of potentially odorous emissions. My inspectors will continue to regulate the permitted installations in the Granville Industrial Estate to ensure that permit conditions are complied with and will take appropriate enforcement action in line with DAERA's enforcement policy where necessary. Granville Ecopark is working towards complying with an enforcement notice relating to odours that NIEA issued to the company on 7 March 2024.”
“I take my advice from respected scientific, evidence-based organisations such as the UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), not from X or vested political interests. The CCC report outlines the real benefits of energy decarbonisation in energy security and lower bills. It is important that we continue that journey so that we avoid continuing to push people into fuel poverty and so that our economy looks outwards — towards our European partners — for collaboration on those issues. Now is the time for action, not to reduce our ambition for this place or on climate change more broadly.”
“I have engaged heavily with my counterparts in the UK Government and in the South. I raised the issue with the Prime Minister at the British-Irish Council in Edinburgh late last year. I have engaged with my colleagues in DEFRA and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. I also recently met Darragh O'Brien, Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy. There is significant liaison across the UK and Ireland. <BR /> <BR />There are significant challenges ahead on climate change. The Met Office projections for the years and decades ahead are dire; they fill me with lots of worry. Now is not the time to turn our backs on climate action and net zero.”
“<BR /> <BR />Beyond that, on the subject of implementation of climate change legislation, my green growth strategy is also sitting with the Executive for agreement. That is concerned with giving opportunities for good green jobs and restoring our environment. It is important that we are able to move on with that so that we can grasp those opportunities for Northern Ireland. Also, we will soon go out to consultation on the Northern Ireland climate adaptation plan, and we are interested in views on that. <BR /> <BR />Lastly, the sustainable agriculture programmes continue to be rolled out by my Department in the context of climate change being the biggest risk to farming. It is important that we give farmers the tools to respond to that and build resilience. There is so much that we can and should do on climate change.”
“We are taking a significant number of actions, and there are actions that have to be taken across government and society. There are many sectors that sit outside my Department's remit that are relevant when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly those that relate to energy and transport. Those actions are reflected in the climate action plan (CAP), which is with the Executive. I will be able to go out to consultation on that climate action plan once I get agreement on it from the Executive. I will engage in a 16-week consultation on the climate action plan, which runs from 2023 to 2027. Included in the climate action plan are actions on agriculture, waste, land use, land use change and forestry cover. Responsibility for those areas sits with my Department.”
“The Department for Infrastructure is the primary lead on that matter. I am aware of the concerns, but I am also conscious of the ongoing legal issue. As a Department, we will discharge our responsibilities in line with our legal duties.”
“I am conscious of those issues; I have received questions for written answer on them. I am also aware of the vesting process and the ongoing legal challenge. If the Member is referring to specific examples, I encourage him to write to me so that I can give him a more definitive reply. We have to respect the rules on the definition of an active farmer.”
“We have appointed two firms for that, with the potential of a third coming online. That provides a solution for the farming community by moving excess on-site slurry or manure and turning it into a resource that we can use to generate energy and potentially export. A number of sites are in place to do that, including one that is near us, in Dundonald. I recently visited that site. I do not know whether the Committee has visited it, but, if not, I encourage it to do so, because it is a very good example of how we can move the management of livestock slurry to a better place.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is important that we take all those initiatives forward, but we also need to make fundamental interventions on agriculture and waste water infrastructure to address the flow of excess nutrients into the lough.”
“No problem. A number of SBRIs are particularly relevant to Lough Neagh. One of those is phase 2 of the sustainable utilisation of livestock slurry initiative. That is ongoing and has proven very successful. It is important that we are conscious of that: I will say a bit more about it next week in the run-up to the Balmoral show. <BR /> <BR />The other issue is the monitoring of blue-green algal blooms by the UK Space Agency. That is ongoing. There is another issue with the number of firms that we have appointed to explore how to manage the blooms. Presentations are due from those firms in the next number of weeks so that we can see how their work is progressing.”
“As part of the Executive's approved Lough Neagh action plan, my Department leads on an inter-agency group to ensure that timely advice is provided to swimmers at the site. That is an important intervention that we are taking. We need to do a lot of work to improve water quality, but it is also important that we take action on bathing waters.”
“The Department continues to implement the Lough Neagh action plan. It is really important that we do that. Specifically in relation to the question and bathing water sites and Lough Neagh, as you have raised it, among the seven new sites being formally identified is Northern Ireland's first inland site at Rea's Wood Nature Reserve on Lough Neagh. The primary focus of the bathing water programme is to provide good public health advice to bathers. It is particularly important for Rea's Wood, given the ongoing blue-green algae problem.”
“<BR /> <BR />The important announcement today is on those seven sites. That is not to say that all is fine. A lot of work needs to be done. We need to address the pollution of our waterways, whether that is from sewage or from agriculture. That is something else that we are talking about today and something that I am determined to do.”
“I am conscious of the issue that the Member has outlined. There is a different situation as regards water quality in different bathing areas. I also know that sea swimming is a popular sport that people undertake. I undertook it on Christmas Eve, and I think that I will stick to running. That is my focus. <BR /> <BR />We need to be conscious of the report of the Office for Environmental Protection on the matter. It is a welcome report. I spoke to officials last week, and they are working through the recommendations from that. We will consult further on a number of matters arising from that. One of the biggest issues arising from the report is an extended season. People may be out swimming today, before the start of the official, designated season. We will take that work forward.”
“The classification for those sites is preliminary and currently based on two years of data. One site was classified as "excellent", two as "good", three as "sufficient" and one as "poor". It should be noted that the addition of a second year of samples in 2024 led to some improvements in classification at those candidate sites, and a full four-year dataset is required to classify with confidence. <BR /> <BR />It is my intention to formally identify the seven candidate sites before the commencement of the 2025 bathing season. My Department publishes the results for all identified and candidate bathing waters on the DAERA and nidirect websites.”
“My Department carried out the most current official assessment of bathing water sites in Northern Ireland during the 2024 bathing season. The bathing season runs from 1 June to 15 September. During that period, weekly monitoring and assessments were carried out at 26 identified bathing water sites and seven candidate bathing water sites. <BR /> <BR />I am pleased to report that Northern Ireland’s bathing waters performed well. All 26 identified bathing waters complied with the required bathing water quality standards. Twenty-two were classified as "excellent", a prerequisite for the coveted blue flag award and an indication of the highest water quality standard. Two met the "good" standard, and the remaining two met the "sufficient" standard. <BR /> <BR />Seven candidate bathing waters were also monitored in 2024.”
“Once a building has gone, it is gone, and we have lost that key fabric in that community. That is why I am keen to progress the Bill.”
“I am conscious of the issues that the Member raises. I am very supportive of built heritage: that is why I am a member of Ulster Architectural Heritage. By tabling the Bill, hopefully, my Department will be able to progress some things around that. I am conscious of the issues in the Member's constituency, particularly in Sion Mills, for example, where there are important buildings that we want to protect. I will continue to work with my Executive colleagues to get the Bill before the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />There is also a role for district councils, because they already have powers around this. Sometimes, they are reluctant to use them. From my time in Ards and North Down Borough Council, I remember that there were listed buildings on which we had to lobby for action to be taken. We got it taken, but it required perseverance.”
“<BR /> <BR />Councils currently have powers under section 161 of the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 to carry out urgent remedial works for the preservation of a listed building. I also declare for the record that I am a member of Ulster Architectural Heritage.”
“It will have a particular impact on that, because, during the policy consultation, stakeholders expressed concerns that, under existing legislation, there was no special consideration or protection afforded to listed buildings and no requirement to consult planning colleagues prior to the issuing of notices. Stakeholders suggested that that had resulted in the loss of a number of buildings that had been allowed to fall into disrepair by owners. We have sought to ensure that the Bill will afford protections to listed buildings and that it will be binding on councils to consult relevant planning colleagues before taking any action. That will properly address heritage issues and be more proactive, allowing actions to be taken at a much earlier stage, thereby preventing avoidable decay in those important buildings.”
“Let us get it on to the Floor of the Assembly.”
“Yes. I am keen to see the Bill on the Floor of the Assembly. When we were returned here in 2022 — it is just about the anniversary of that election — we were clear that the public wanted us to deliver for them. The dilapidation Bill is a key tool by which we will do that. <BR /> <BR />Dilapidation is a real blight on communities. It affects the neighbourhoods and causes lack of investment in the area. That is why I am very keen to have the Bill tabled. It has been fully reviewed with regard to its competence and legal perspectives. Hopefully, it will get Executive approval; I can bring it here; we can debate it; and the Committee can scrutinise it. It will be a positive thing for all communities across Northern Ireland, particularly in some constituencies. To be fair, you have been a strong advocate of the Bill.”
“I have now received confirmation that the dilapidation Bill is within the legislative competence of the Assembly. I am seeking approval for the introduction of the Bill at the earliest available opportunity from my Executive colleagues. Once Executive approval is received, I will seek to have the Bill introduced, with the Speaker's agreement, as soon as possible.”
“The Programme for Government sets out areas of commitment, one of which relates to improving the environment. In the environmental improvement plan, we have actions that I seek to take as Minister. Clearly, what is required with regard to waste water infrastructure is investment. The Northern Ireland Audit Office has set out its views on that: people would do well to pay heed to them.”
“The lack of investment in waste water infrastructure is not just holding back economic investment and housebuilding but destroying our environment. We cannot continue to kick the can down the road. It is for others to step up and take decisions on it.”