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 am on record as saying that I will support the Infrastructure Minister in funding bids for Northern Ireland Water. That is the kind of person that I am. I will support that investment, which needs to take place. The pressure that I am bringing to bear relates to the regulation and enforcement arrangements for Northern Ireland Water, as I outlined, and the set-up that has been in place since 2007. It is not tenable to have that in place. NI Water, in its current state, is not fit for purpose. What is happening in Northern Ireland with regard to sewage pollution in our waterways is nothing short of a thundering disgrace. It is wrong. Belfast lough is likely to become the next Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland due to the level of pollution that is occurring.”
“That is not tenable, and, as Minister, I will be honest and fair to all polluters in Northern Ireland. That is why I am engaged in a formal process to get the views of NI Water and DFI on our exiting that arrangement and putting Northern Ireland Water on the same platform as all other polluters in Northern Ireland. I will make a final decision on that in the forthcoming weeks. It is just not tenable that Northern Ireland Water should be treated differently from other polluters. It is a corporate polluter and should be treated as such.”
“I can answer that question in a number of ways. The third cycle river basin management plan has been with the Executive for approval for a while, and I continue to engage with my Executive colleagues on it. <BR /> <BR />If Members will bear with me, I will explain this a bit more. When NI Water was established in 2007, a statement of regulatory principles and intent (SORPI) was put in place, and it has remained in place. A number of years ago, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency exited from the element on drinking water. People should understand about SORPI that, when dealing with regulation or enforcement against NI Water for sewage pollution, the historical underinvestment must be taken into account. Therefore, in many instances, Northern Ireland water is getting a by-ball for pumping sewage into our waterways.”
“Of the estimated 1,530 tons of phosphorus lost to water, 62% was determined to be from agricultural sources and 36% from sewage, of which 24% was attributed to waste water and a further 12% to septic tanks. <BR /> <BR />The approved environmental improvement plan for Northern Ireland sets out my commitment to improve water quality, including the requirement to publish the third cycle river basin management plan and the associated programme of measures. Work to improve water quality will require collective action across government, the public and private sectors and wider society.”
“I am aware of the impact of sewage pollution on water quality. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) undertakes an extensive water quality monitoring programme in Northern Ireland's rivers and lakes. NIEA's river waterbody monitoring indicates that 53% of river waterbodies are impacted by agriculture-related pressures and that 25% by sewage-related pressures. The percentages include a significant number of waterbodies, some 21%, that are impacted by sewage and agricultural pressures. <BR /> <BR />The research, which was led by AFBI and published in October 2020, examined substance-flow analysis for phosphorus in Northern Ireland's food system.”
“Let us do that and move forward to improve our environment and prevent wildfires occurring in our countryside.”
“Thank you very much, Andy. That is a really important issue. Re-wetting peatlands leads to improvements in the height of the water table, which increases the wetness and the growth of key plants that naturally limit the dominance of the shrubs, heather and grasses that favour drier conditions and burn more readily. A water table that sits at or close to the peat's surface also limits the capacity of uncontrolled fires to burn into the peat layer and smoulder, leading to less severe fires. <BR /> <BR />The Member raises an important question. I have a peatland strategy that is now with the Executive for approval. We need to restore our peatlands across Northern Ireland. That can contribute towards so much, particularly in relation to the issues that we are discussing.”
“The Department has previously engaged with specific forums and intends to re-establish that as part of the strategy associated with the wildfires. Engagement with people is important. There will be a consultation and engagement about the prescribed burning period. I have put on record my belief that the period should be reviewed, and I will welcome people's engagement with the consultation on that. It is important that we have a proper and informed discussion about the arrangements that are in place. I am conscious that the Republic of Ireland's prescribed burning period ends six weeks before ours and that the penalties associated with that are different. I want to engage with the farming community in particular on that.”
“The media have strongly profiled the issue. Last week, I was with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service in Ballynahinch and Lisburn, and we put out media updates subsequent to that visit to raise the profile of the practical implications. We have a role, as elected representatives, to profile the communications and encourage people with any information to bring it forward to the police, because we need prosecutions. We need to see people in court, but that requires people who are prepared to give evidence. We also need to be conscious that what people may see as a localised fire can very quickly spread and have devastating consequences. People need to be very conscious about their behaviour in the countryside. We have seen that people have lost their life in other parts of the world, and that is my concern about the wildfires.”
“I am working on the strategy with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and the Department of Health, but that is a medium- and long-term issue. We need a different attitude to the wildfires, which are having a devastating impact on our countryside. It is very distressing to see the damage that we have caused to our countryside.”
“My engagement with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has shown that the overwhelming majority of the fires have been deliberately set. It is only by the grace of God that nobody has been killed by the fires in Northern Ireland. I again urge anyone with any information to pass it on to the police. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has undertaken significant work in recent weeks in response to the fires. I praise the service for the work that has been done in very difficult circumstances. <BR /> <BR />Our attitude to the fires must be clear: we should not see them as headlines that come and go. We need to have a different attitude. That should be that, if we know anyone who lights such fires, we must contact the police and be prepared to give evidence to take it to court. That is absolutely key.”
“<BR /> <BR />In addition, my officials continue to work with key partners in the Fire and Rescue Service and the Department of Health to finalise a robust, cross-cutting and effective strategy to address the scourge of wildfires in the medium and long term.”
“<BR /> <BR />To try to prevent wildfires and to reduce their impact when they do occur, my Department works with others, especially the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. Close working across government and beyond is required to tackle those deliberate acts of rural arson and prevent wildfires. Working together, we issue communications that highlight the risk of wildfires and actions that should be taken to prevent them. We have made available the departmental specialist wildfire vehicles for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service to use during wildfire incidents. We also seek to develop wildfire management plans in high-risk areas or designated sites.”
“Mr Speaker, with your permission, I will group questions 4 and 14. <BR /> <BR />The recent spate of wildfire incidents is very concerning, as wildfires not only have the potential to have devastating impacts on the environment but are a risk to life, homes and farms. We must all unite to strongly condemn the actions of the individuals who started those fires. I urge anyone with any information about people who were involved in those activities to contact the police. <BR /> <BR />I pay tribute and give special thanks to the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) for all its work. The Health Minister and I met the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service last week to thank it for the work that it does, and I put that thanks on the record here today.”
“That is one of my main concerns. You are right to highlight that. We want to make sure that we do not do that. We will engage on it as part of a co-design process, because we want to make sure that it benefits rural areas and people who are less well off. It is important that we do that.”
“We will do that next week at the Balmoral show. Dairy is not scary for me; it is healthy and nutritious, and I enjoy it as part of my daily diet. The Balmoral show will be a great opportunity to showcase the excellent quality food that we have in Northern Ireland, not just to people from Northern Ireland but on a wider platform. It is important that we do that. We should be proud of those standards. <BR /> <BR />I will say that I have written to the UK Government about my concerns about any potential trade deal with the United States of America. We should not undercut our farmers in the UK. We have good-quality food: we want to be able to protect the industry and sell that food to a wider market.”
“For that reason, I intend to ensure that the school milk subsidy scheme is refreshed as part of the food strategy framework action plan targets over the next two years.”
“Thank you, Sian. As I said, I will launch the food strategy framework action plan — we are probably going to develop an acronym for that — at the Balmoral show next week. It will be really important that we follow up on that launch. A key priority in the strategy is to enable improved diet-related health outcomes through education. The framework focuses on making healthy, nutritious and sustainable food the food of choice. The framework recognises the importance of a healthy, balanced diet at all stages of life. That is particularly the case for children as it impacts on their growth, development, educational attainment and long-term health and well-being. Intervening early to create healthy eating habits helps to give children and young people the best start in life by embedding in them a positive relationship with food.”
“I am keen to keep the scheme. When I was at primary school, I was one of the people involved in selling the milk, so I have a background in this. It provides great nutritional value for young people. I want to consider the survey responses so that we can find better ways to promote and increase uptake. Whilst we are still going through the survey responses, the indications are that there is support for the scheme, with the majority of schools indicating that it offers good value for money, and the majority of parents believing that it is an important scheme and that milk provides a range of nutritional benefits for their children's diet and development. As I said, I support the scheme, and I look forward to taking actions to promote it as part of the Northern Ireland food strategy framework action plan.”
“A total of 121 schools and 1,701 parents or guardians responded to the survey, which closed on 10 January this year. Responses are being analysed, and a report will be finalised in the coming weeks. The information that was generated from the survey, together with engagement with key stakeholders, will form part of an ongoing review of the scheme. Options to refresh the scheme will be taken forward as part of the Northern Ireland food strategy framework action plan. I intend to publish the action plan at next week's Balmoral show, which I am looking forward to.”
“I note the new commitments on water quality in the new Irish Government's Programme for Government: I am engaging with the Irish Government: I had a meeting with Darragh O'Brien recently, and I will be having further meetings with other Ministers about how we can implement that for the benefit of all people across the island of Ireland.”
“My Department cooperates with counterparts in Ireland to improve water quality through the North/South Ministerial Council's areas of cooperation, such as the environment, and the Loughs Agency, as an implementation body. The Loughs Agency is collaborating with East Border Region and Inland Fisheries Ireland, and, in Northern Ireland, with the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Ulster University and Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, on the new PEACE PLUS-funded catchment action for local management (CALM) project, which will see a range of actions to improve water quality being implemented in several cross-border catchments including the rivers Strule and Finn.”
“It is important that they are laid on time. Having these institutions back is important, as there was a lot of catching up to do as a result of previous periods when the Assembly was not sitting. I am engaging with the Loughs Agency on the issue as it is important to ensure that we keep to a proper procedure.”
“Since 2015, it has successfully prosecuted 85 offenders for water quality offences and 111 offenders for angling-related offences. The key objective of that directorate is to provide a highly visible, public-facing approach to enforcement to act as a deterrent to the illegal activity that is taking place in the first place. <BR /> <BR />On the issue of the boardrooms, which Mr Gaston seems to have an interest in, the agency can hold meetings at its headquarters and its two regional offices. Those meeting rooms are used extensively outside of board meetings to support the day-to-day running of the agency.”
“I strongly believe in the value of the Loughs Agency and cross-border working. I have responded in detail to the questions for written answer that the Member has tabled to me. The Member raised the issue of prosecutions. The agency has a statutory duty to protect the fisheries in the Foyle and Carlingford areas. Dealing with illegal nets is only one part of the remit of the agency's conservation and protection directorate. The conservation and protection directorate operates a hotline that the public can use to report suspected pollution events or illegal fishing activity. Staff members are on call to respond 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. <BR /> <BR />In 2024, the agency inspected over 1,600 fishing licences, detected 133 illegal fishing incidents and dealt with 216 pollution incidents.”
“The Loughs Agency has a clear statutory remit and delivers a necessary public function on a cross-border basis. The performance of the agency is evaluated in line with the agreed framework document, and a review of its performance is published in the Loughs Agency's annual report and accounts. <BR /> <BR />On the issue of value for money, I take assurance from the governance arrangements that are in place for the agency and my Department's oversight.”
“We will do that in the fullness of time. In many cases, the fires are in designated sites. They are jewels in the crown of our nature and biodiversity, and they are being destroyed. That is the real worry for me: it is not just about the risk to lives and livelihoods and to farms and houses but about the implications for our environment. In due course, we will calculate the impact on our environment. <BR /> <BR />It does not need to be like this. We need to get control of it, and I am really worried by the weather forecast for the days ahead.”
“I thank the Member. He rightly points out that the fires are not just in the Mournes. There have also been fires in Donegal, for example, and in Galloway in Scotland, so the issue goes beyond Northern Ireland. I will pick up the Member's point and raise it with the Health Minister. I am answering questions as Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, but we need to work together, and I will speak to the Minister of Health because he has responsibility for the Fire and Rescue Service.”
“The Northern Ireland Environment Agency has specialist ATVs that have been upgraded with additional equipment, including a portable pump. Those vehicles are pre-positioned at the following locations, or rather, this is where they are meant to be, as they are probably out and about at present: Ballycastle, Coleraine and Omagh fire stations and Sprucefield police station. Their deployment has proved to be invaluable, especially to the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, and I thank the Northern Ireland Environment Agency for its planning and for the deployment of the vehicles.”
“I hear Mr Buckley chuntering from a sedentary position. The situation in the countryside is really serious. The impact on Fire and Rescue Service personnel and resources is significant. I will be clear: the situation that is unfolding is really quite concerning. I say to people that it is important that we do all that we can to ensure that we do not have any more incidents in our countryside. <BR /> <BR />I am doing all that I can to support the people who are affected by this. We do a lot of engagement with non-governmental organisations, which we also fund. The Mourne Heritage Trust is an example of that, as we give it grant support. I will be meeting it this evening because it plays a critical role, and we will continue to support it. I thank everyone who is working on the issue.”
“I do not want to get involved in any particular blame game. The only way that we can go forward and know the exact cause of this is when we get people in front of a court. Regardless of who is responsible for this, if anyone knows any information, they should lift the phone and ring the police or Crimestoppers. For people's actions in the countryside, there is guidance as to what you should and should not do there. I will make it simple: do not light any fires. Stop them today.”
“It is important to give thanks to the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and let it get on with the job, which is extremely challenging.”
“Thank you, Andy, for your question. I will answer in two parts. Let us call this what it is: rural arson. If it does not stop, we will have homes burnt down, people killed and serious environmental consequences beyond those that we have seen in recent days and weeks. The situation that is unfolding is really concerning. <BR /> <BR />I am happy to meet residents. I plan to go to the area this evening. As a result of the evolving situation, I will not go anywhere near the wildfires, because it is important that I do not divert resources away from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. Therefore, I will keep well away from the scene, and I encourage others to do likewise, because we need to let the Fire and Rescue Service get on with the job. I will meet residents much further away from the scene.”
“I am now receiving reports of another fire having broken out in the Mournes. It is important that I say to everyone across Northern Ireland, "Knock it on the head. Stop these fires."”
“Finances are always a challenge for my Department. The Fiscal Council set that out with regard to the budgetary settlement for my Department. <BR /> <BR />I say one thing about this: we are facing a very serious situation. I worry that, if these fires do not stop, lives will be lost. There is a tendency in this place to divert to blame games and finger-pointing. That does not resolve any of this. I am working in my Department and with the Health Minister. There is a cross-departmental, statutory, joined-up approach to this. I praise the work undertaken by the Fire and Rescue Service, the police, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, the Mourne Heritage Trust and so many people who come together in relation to this. To be honest, I dread to think what would be happening if that preparedness and prompt response had not been in place.”
“I am very conscious of the situation in the South, where it ends six weeks earlier than it does here. We need to consider that, and, alongside that, we need to look at better upland management for Northern Ireland. We have to change what we are doing here. I know that that will be difficult for people, but we cannot continue in the current way.”
“Thank you for that important question. It is important that I say that anyone who deliberately and maliciously lights fires in the countryside should be held to account. I am blind to the culprits, but I am also aware of the concerns about the burn period. Today, I urge everyone to refrain from using the last week of the period for prescribed burning in Northern Ireland. I know that there is a week left, but I ask people to draw it to a halt today because of the significant impact that these incidents are having on the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and its resources and on the risk to lives, livelihoods and our environment. <BR /> <BR />I hope to bring a strategic way forward on wildfires to the Executive very soon. In that, I will request that we consult on a different approach to burn periods in Northern Ireland.”
“Thank you, Diane. Yesterday and today, I spoke to the Health Minister, who has overall responsibility for the Fire and Rescue Service, and we will remain in close liaison. I will take the points that you raised to Mike, the Health Minister. <BR /> <BR />All of us in the Chamber and in society have a role to play in this matter. If we are aware of anyone or have any information whatsoever about the deliberate and malicious setting of the fires, we owe it to ourselves, to wider society and to the environment to report it to the police or, if we do not feel capable of doing that, to Crimestoppers. I know that that may be difficult, because we may be reporting a neighbour, but we need to bring the culprits to justice.”
“Officials are reviewing why no applications were received, with the intention of revising the tender and issuing a new tender for the work to commence as soon as possible. I have asked officials to expedite the strategic way forward for wildfires in Northern Ireland so that I can urgently bring it to the Executive.”
“My Department continues to support wildfire prevention work, particularly the continued implementation of the eastern Mournes wildfire project and the management of strategic wildfire control points in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and the Mourne Heritage Trust. In essence, those points include a number that are mostly within the Mourne walls and at which vegetation is kept purposefully short to slow the rate of spread of wildfires in order to allow the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service extra time to deploy appropriate personnel. Further work was planned to review and develop a wider wildfire plan for the Mournes, but unfortunately no applications were received for an associated tender that was issued in January.”
“The Northern Ireland Environment Agency's specialist wildfire all-terrain vehicles also remain available for use by the emergency services, and all three of those were deployed by the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service over the weekend at Rostrevor, and one was used at Ben Crom.”
“However, some of the recent fires, which were started after dark and are very difficult to catch, are, unfortunately, still happening. The dry, warm and often breezy weather is leading to conditions for wildfires, and they are severe. <BR /> <BR />As part of my Department's preparation for the current wildfire season, it deployed specialist wildfire ATVs with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. The vehicles are located across Northern Ireland in areas that the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service deems to be at the greatest risk of wildfires. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency's (NIEA) wildfire officer was also in attendance over the weekend, and I want to thank him and so many other officials in my Department. He remains on call to assist the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service should it be required.”
“First, I offer my sympathy to all those who have been affected by the terrible fires over the past few days and pay tribute and express thanks to the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) for all the work that it is doing to keep people safe. <BR /> <BR />Tackling and preventing wildfires requires close working by the relevant agencies, as well as public awareness and vigilance. Two weeks ago, my Department issued a press release, in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and the police, highlighting the risk of wildfires over the coming months and providing advice on how to help to prevent them. Prior to the wildfires over the past weekend, my officials issued an updated natural hazards partnership amber wildfire warning to key stakeholders in order to enable increased vigilance over the weekend.”
“On a point of order, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. Every time I come to Question Time, it starts on time, and I am prepared for it. One thing that is becoming quite regular, however, and has occurred at a number of Question Times is that when I respond to Mr Buckley, he seeks to shout me down. I would like to get a ruling on the appropriateness of that behaviour.”
“We will do the consultation, evaluate the responses and consider the way forward. I am very conscious that a potentially significant cost is associated with the remediation. That will be a resource cost, so I will work with the Finance Minister on that because he is a decent kind of guy. That will allow us to progress in that area. I want to collectively consider the issue: I am conscious that it has been waiting for quite a while, so I want to move on it.”
“Thank you very much, Gary. That is an important issue. We plan to consult on the remediation strategy for the Mobuoy site this spring, and it is key to do so. I am aware that phase 2 of the A6 dual carriageway project will encroach on the Mobuoy site. I declare an interest as my stepfather was a quality manager for phase 1 of that project. Northern Ireland Environment Agency officials continue to work closely with DFI Roads colleagues to ensure that an integrated and coordinated approach is taken. We look forward to launching that consultation soon.”
“We have had constructive discussions about the Budget allocation, and we will continue to do so to make the budget for my Department work and deliver for the citizens of Northern Ireland.”
“I have set out a clear vision and 10 key pledges in the corporate plan. One of my concerns is about my Department's budgetary position. The Fiscal Council's report on the draft Budget for the next financial year laid bare the reality for my Department in tables 4.2 and 4.8: it has suffered the biggest cut of any Department. As a result, the interventions associated with Lough Neagh and the plan to implement a number of environmental measures and tackle waste crime are underfunded. There are also challenges for my Department's work on TB. <BR /> <BR />There are significant budgetary challenges, but the Minister for Finance is a very good person, who has worked constructively with me on those issues.”
“Many of the pledges need commitment, and, of course, challenges lie ahead, particularly in relation to budgets, but I am determined to deliver a positive difference for the people of Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />The plan includes a new vision: the delivery of a net zero and nature-positive future to support sustainable agriculture and thriving rural communities.”
“I was delighted to launch the new corporate plan, which takes us up to the end of the mandate. The corporate plan was published on 13 March, and it is built around my eight key priorities and underpinned by 10 pledges. The corporate plan makes it clear that many of our goals are inextricably linked to delivering sustainability and the three missions in the Programme for Government. <BR /> <BR />What the Department does next links directly and indirectly to the priorities in the Programme for Government, particularly those on building a globally competitive and sustainable economy and protecting Lough Neagh and the environment. Progress in all those areas will require us to work collaboratively across my Department and with external partners and stakeholders.”