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 respect the autonomy of district councils. There are good opportunities to collaborate in those areas, which is why my officials engage with councils on those issues. We want to reach the ambition of the recycling targets that are set out in the climate change legislation. That requires us to work together, which we continue to do. I respect the operations of district councils, but we all need to do more collectively to encourage recycling and to reduce fly-tipping.”
“<BR /> <BR />In January 2025, officials from the NIEA environmental crime unit (ECU) provided training to council staff at a conference on the new legislative powers available to councils to assist them in enforcement on illegal waste dumping. The event allowed the ECU to provide clarity on the work that the unit undertakes and guidance on the use of the joint legislative environmental powers. It also encouraged councils to take forward their own prosecutions.”
“The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) provides support to councils through the operation of the fly-tipping protocol. Under the protocol, NIEA assists councils by dealing with incidents of illegal waste dumping above 20 cubic metres, which is about the size of a bin lorry, and incidents involving hazardous waste that councils do not have the facilities to manage. Currently, nine of the 11 district councils have signed up to the protocol. I have asked officials to engage with the two remaining district councils to encourage them to sign up. Officials from NIEA regularly contribute to several council groups that discuss proactive enforcement, including the government waste working group and the Northern Ireland environmental quality forum.”
“I will continue to answer the question. The impact on my Department is that a substantial number of staff are implementing the Windsor framework. It is important that we do that; we should be able to understand the implications of not upholding international agreements. I will write to the Member with a bit more information. There is a slight complication in that some parts of my Department are under the direction and control of the Secretary of State when it comes to the implementation of the Windsor framework. That is the result of a request from the DUP.”
“I am aware of the Office for Budget Responsibility's projections and forecasts for the impact of Brexit on the UK economy. Frankly, the UK economy has flatlined as a result of Brexit.”
“Thank you, Principal Deputy Speaker. It is a bit of a trend for Mr Buckley to shout down other people in the Chamber. I am seeking to answer questions on the issue. I look to build relationships with people whom you can trust, and, frankly, Mr Buckley's party has a history of building relationships with people whom you cannot trust.”
“I believe in the full, faithful and timely implementation of the Windsor framework, because I believe in upholding our legal obligations. That is important, and it is part of the ministerial code. Let us be clear: Brexit, as has been proven by the Office for Budget Responsibility, has been a really bad idea for the UK economy. The most vulnerable people are feeling the consequences of that. I will continue to work with the UK Government to alleviate some of the consequences of Brexit. I know that some people look to President Trump in the United States with a sense of glee —.”
“I look forward to meeting Daniel Zeichner from DEFRA — hopefully this week — so that we can have a comprehensive and ambitious SPS veterinary agreement that can benefit Northern Ireland, result in the removal of the Northern Ireland retail movement scheme, further other schemes and contribute to growth across the UK economy.”
“Thank you, Eóin. That is an important issue. I have had significant engagement with the UK Government on the potential for an SPS veterinary agreement. That significant engagement has included speaking with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the DEFRA Secretary of State, DEFRA Ministers and Nick Thomas-Symonds from the Cabinet Office. I have been consistent in my messaging to those Ministers that the SPS veterinary agreement should be ambitious and comprehensive and benefit Northern Ireland. Frankly, it cannot come soon enough. <BR /> <BR />I raised concerns last week with the UK Government about their pursual of gene editing and how that could end up excluding Northern Ireland from an SPS veterinary agreement and therefore increase friction in trade between GB and NI rather than reduce it.”
“I cannot be held responsible for what another Minister says in another place, but I can be held responsible for the actions that I am taking in Northern Ireland, namely engaging on this with the industry, with UK Ministers and with my counterparts in the South. Control zones have been established in Hungary and Slovakia, and the effectiveness of that approach was confirmed in the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) report on foot-and-mouth disease that was published on 6 May 2021, which concluded that the disease control zones would:”
“Under the Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations 2024, the import of live animals into Northern Ireland is under the direction and control of the DEFRA Secretary of State.”
“Partnership is crucial if, together, we are to make a difference. I thank the Members involved in bringing this important topic to the Floor and am happy to support the amendment and the motion.”
“farm businesses. It highlights examples of areas in which improvement is needed if diversity is truly to be valued. Those include language, behaviours and the management of meetings and events. I invite the industry and those who represent it to read NFU Scotland's report, consider which of the findings could apply to their organisation and decide to take action to ensure that, whatever their organisation's role, they do everything that they can to challenge outdated attitudes and ensure that diversity and inclusion are not just talked about but actively and visibly embraced. <BR /> <BR />The amendment specifically references partnership working to increase women's:”
“On that issue, as reflected in the amendment, the report from the diversity and inclusion review, commissioned by the National Farmers' Union Scotland, makes interesting and concerning reading. It recognises the importance of the organisation being:”
“<BR /> <BR />The motion and the amendment call on me, as Minister, to take action, and I have outlined my commitment to do so. Members should have no doubt about the fact that I and my Department will play our part. However, genuine equality of opportunity for women in our farming and agri-food sector must be driven not just by government but by the sector itself. That requires leadership not just by encouraging women to come forward but by creating conditions that make it possible. That means leadership in showcasing the significant roles that women play across the industry; leadership in ensuring that meetings, engagements and public events actively encourage and visibly include women leaders; and, crucially, leadership in challenging misogyny and outdated attitudes towards women.”
“and to improve the diversity of representation on its boards. I confirm that the Department provides training in that area and works with other Departments on that, including through the Civil Service's diversity champions network. <BR /> <BR />We have our own departmental diversity champion, and I am proud that we also provide wider leadership in the area. One of our deputy secretaries is a Northern Ireland Civil Service gender champion, and our permanent secretary is the joint Northern Ireland Civil Service diversity and inclusion champion. We are also working hard to ensure that women are properly represented at the top of our organisation, particularly on the boards of non-departmental public bodies. I am pleased with the progress that we have made, but there is no room for complacency.”
“I am proud of the work that my Department is doing to champion women in leadership roles, and I encourage Members to review the videos that we posted on social media at the weekend that show just some of the key roles that women play across the Department. <BR /> <BR />The 'Breaking the Grass Ceiling' report called on my Department to do more to:”
“I have met rural stakeholders and reiterated my intention for co-design and collaboration to form a key central element of that policy. Recognising the crucial role that women play in our rural communities, I want to work with partners to make sure that the new policy makes a significant contribution to the "Accelerate action" theme, with a particular focus on breaking down barriers and cultivating opportunities for women in agriculture. My officials continue to engage with rural stakeholders, and it is my intention that the draft proposals will be consulted on this year. I am also conscious of the importance of leading by example. We cannot call on others to play their part if we are not doing so ourselves.”
“Issues with female succession were highlighted in the scheme awareness campaign and will feature in upcoming planning for succession workshops. In those workshops, the role of women in business will be emphasised, including the vital role of those women who are in jobs off the farm but who make a key contribution to the viability of the farm business. The mentor will work with all members of the farming family to support them in developing a succession plan that meets the needs and aspirations of all. The evaluation of the pilot will consider the impact of the scheme on encouraging the succession of female farmers into the business. <BR /> <BR />Across my Department, we are also working to develop a new evidence-based rural policy for consultation.”
“That includes the work of our College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise, the progress that we want to make through my sustainable agriculture programme (SAP) and the work that we are doing on rural development. <BR /> <BR />I am both proud and delighted that enrolment on to CAFRE's agriculture courses continues to attract a high number of females, and I am determined to do all that we can to support women at all levels as they progress through their education programmes. Whilst that is encouraging, I recognise that some of those women will face barriers as they aspire to take over their family farm or start a new farm business. We are exploring that in the delivery of the Farming for the Generations pilot scheme.”
“It is right that we seek to accelerate action and drive improvement. That point was also picked up in the 2022 report 'Breaking the Grass Ceiling', as referenced in the motion, which found that 98% of respondents to the survey that formed part of it agreed that women help improve farm productivity. Only 50% agreed that farming offers equal opportunities for men and women, and, shockingly, only 15% agreed that women are treated fairly in farm succession. I assure Members that I and my Department have been playing our part not just in taking forward recommendations from the report but in looking more widely at the barriers that exist.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I thank the Members for tabling the motion. I am happy to support the motion and the amendment. <BR /> <BR />The debate comes just after we all marked International Women's Day on Saturday. I pay tribute to the women who, every day, make a difference in the Chamber, our constituencies, my Department and, of course, our agriculture, environment and fisheries sectors. The theme of this year's International Women's Day was, "Accelerate action", and there was good reason for that. It is clear that progress towards gender parity has been made in public life and agriculture, but the World Economic Forum estimates that, at the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158 — five generations — to reach full gender parity. We need to be concerned about the under-representation of women in any sector.”
“It is important to outline that that is our approach.”
“I reassure the Member that the establishment and size of disease control zones are based on extensive research and risk assessments to ensure that the risk of disease spread is minimal. The effectiveness of that approach was confirmed by the foot-and-mouth disease report published on 6 May 2021, which concluded that the disease control zones:”
“I will engage with Ministers, as I have outlined, to discuss our planned approach and how Ministers from the UK and Ireland are responding to this. Lessons have to be learned. Some Members will be aware of the reports about the suboptimal nature of the border target operating model in the case of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany. Hopefully, lessons have been learned from that in recent months. <BR /> <BR />It is important to put it on record that, to protect Northern Ireland, strict import controls are in place to restrict the movement of animals and their food products from foot-and-mouth disease-affected areas, as I outlined to Mr Gaston. That means that movement to Northern Ireland of all susceptible species and their products from disease control zones in Hungary and Slovakia is prohibited.”
“The Member has correctly outlined the situation for movement of ruminants from GB to NI as the result of the threat from bluetongue. I have had no serious representations from the farming community asking for that to be changed. I understand the challenges that that poses, but the focus has been on keeping bluetongue out of Northern Ireland. I put people's livelihoods, jobs and the industry ahead of ideology; that is what we need to do on this. <BR /> <BR />The restrictions on foot-and-mouth disease-affected areas around Hungary are similar to those put in place in response to the outbreak in Germany. It is important to state that those arrangements have been in place. I will continue to engage with my colleague in the South on any further developments.”
“Other situations may evolve, and we want to make sure that people are quickly apprised rather than having to wait until a Monday, for example. <BR /> <BR />I am acutely aware of the mental health of farmers, particularly those who have been affected by avian influenza. I really praise the work of Rural Support.”
“We are agile on that: as the situation evolves, the Chief Veterinary Officers are talking regularly. <BR /> <BR />The point that the Member made about mental health is important. Rural Support plays a significant role in our rural communities, and I encourage anyone who is seeking advice or support to contact it. <BR /> <BR />I felt that it was important to come here after confirmation of the case in Hungary at the end of last week to outline to Members what we are doing in response and that, given that such situations evolve rapidly, my plan is to engage directly with the Committee through written correspondence. We can send that in an agile fashion to keep the Committee updated. I hope that that will be useful. I spoke to the Chair and Deputy Chair on Friday afternoon.”
“I hope that the situation does not arise again. That is why it is important that we are here together and that we collectively work on the response. As I have outlined, the key contact point with the EU is the UK Government. That is the established procedure, and I reached out to the UK Government through the Secretary of State on Friday. I am seeking a meeting with Baroness Hayman at DEFRA, and I am reaching out for a meeting with Martin Heydon, my counterpart down South, so that we can work collectively on the issue. Let us hope that the dark days that you outlined never come back to Northern Ireland.”
“Thank you very much, John. A lot of people ask me how avian influenza got here, and that is one of the challenges. The disease spreads through the movement of infected birds and from bird to bird by contact with contaminated body fluids and faeces, either directly or through contaminated objects and surfaces. Avian influenza is not an airborne disease. The avian influenza virus changes frequently, creating new strains, and there is a constant risk that one of the new strains will spread easily among people. However, there is no evidence that any recent strain of avian influenza has been able to spread directly between humans.”
“The most important thing is that our Department works with the people affected very quickly, which it has done.”
“Thank you. I outlined earlier the vires and the ability of my Department to pay compensation. Compensation is paid for disease-control purposes. If a notifiable strain of avian influenza is confirmed on a premises, compensation based on the current market value will be payable for all poultry culled at the Department's direction. We will do what we can within our vires and established policy. <BR /> <BR />I totally understand the difficulties that farmers face when avian flu arrives. It is unexpected, and, clearly, it is unwanted and unplanned for. We will continue to work with the industry, particularly in getting on site to do the testing and to assist with the humane culling of the poultry. I am also conscious that we will provide support where we can within the legal vires and within the 'Managing Public Money' guidance.”
“That is why I requested a meeting with Baroness Hayman to discuss the issue, and it is why I let the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland know about it and continue to engage with him. One of the quirks of my Department is that it has two Ministers.”
“I am aware of the incident, and it was widely reported in the farming press. To be honest, when I heard about the incident, I was absolutely furious. I was disgusted that someone would do that and threaten our farming community in Northern Ireland. I echo the words of the Ulster Farmers' Union and encourage people to source responsibly and stick by the rules, because we all need to stand together to safeguard our industry. <BR /> <BR />The Windsor framework implementation regulations that were made last year mean that, largely, movements between GB and NI do not sit under my direction and control but under the direction and control of the Secretary of State.”
“There was a meeting with stakeholders on Friday evening to discuss the preparations and the reports from Hungary. The engagement with stakeholders was appreciated, and it will be ongoing not just for foot-and-mouth disease — that is an evolving picture — but for avian influenza and other matters. While I engage with my officials, Members and my ministerial counterparts across the UK and Ireland, the engagement with stakeholders is ongoing. I rang the president of the Ulster Farmers' Union on Friday as well.”
“Compensation is payable for animals culled for disease control purposes at the direction of the Department. I am guided by the vires for my Department and established policy on the issue. I will help farmers where I can, but I also need to work within the confines of 'Managing Public Money'.”
“I want to raise my concern about bluetongue, because, while the weather is quite nice, as it gets warmer, bluetongue will become a greater threat to us in Northern Ireland.”
“While bluetongue is not in Northern Ireland, I have a significant concern about it because of the spread that has occurred in England and because there are cases in Wales. I was in the glens of Antrim, and I know that, on a clear day, you can see Galloway clearly. That gives you an idea of how the virus can move in Great Britain. All it takes is for the wind to be directed in a certain way, and it will come to Northern Ireland. Its impact on us could be significant. If people have any concerns about bluetongue, it is really important that they report them straight away so that we can test and take action. If you speak to the farming communities in England and Europe who have endured the virus, you will find that it has had a significant impact on their trade.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is important that I re-emphasise the importance of biosecurity, because we have a number of weeks left of migratory wild birds passing over Northern Ireland, and the concern is that the outbreak could occur again. It is important that we emphasise the importance of biosecurity.”
“Thank you, Keith, for your kind words about the officials in my Department. They have been working night and day and over weekends to deal with the issue. They went in personally to effect the culling of the birds, and I am very grateful to them. Your words mean a lot to me. <BR /> <BR />The biosecurity requirements are legally mandated, because the zone remains in place across the whole of Northern Ireland. It is a legal requirement to adhere to them. Most premises are doing it because they understand their importance for their business. They involve simple measures for ensuring that records are kept about the people who enter and leave the premises, that the premises are properly secured and noting whether there is an issue about access by rodents. They are standard things, and there is stuff on our website about them.”
“I am approaching the issue of foot-and-mouth disease as a threat. I will discuss funding with the Finance Minister, if it becomes an issue. I am keen that we approach the matter with the seriousness that it deserves. We are doing that, and we are doing it with North/South cooperation — between Ministers and through officials — and it is important that we do that. The most effective thing that we can do at the moment is ensure that we keep foot-and-mouth disease out of the island of Ireland through effective border controls, vigilance and early reporting. We are focused on those measures.”
“Initial actions include restricting suspect premises, conducting veterinary investigations, taking samples from suspect species for testing at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), establishing disease control zones, humanely culling suspect species on an infected premises and cleansing and disinfecting infected premises. On confirmation of disease, a protection zone with a minimum radius of 3 kilometres and a surveillance zone with a minimum radius of 10 kilometres will be imposed around the infected premises. The size of the disease control zones is based on extensive research and risk assessments to ensure that there is a minimal risk of disease spread. The effectiveness of the approach was confirmed in a report on foot-and-mouth disease that was published on 6 May 2021. It concluded that the disease control zones would:”
“My Department has well-established and robust disease control contingency plans in place to manage the risk of disease incursions and to protect our livestock farmers and the wider industry. The foot-and-mouth disease control strategy outlines clear procedures for responding to suspect cases in Northern Ireland. Foot-and-mouth disease is listed as a category A disease under EU animal health law. Category A diseases do not normally occur in the EU or Northern Ireland, and it is a requirement that immediate eradication measures be taken when they are detected. <BR /> <BR />In the event of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Northern Ireland, the disease control actions taken by my Department are mandatory: they are legislated for in EU and domestic law.”
“I am very conscious of the risk related to that. I also want to discuss with the UK Government the border target operating model. Concerns have been expressed about the inadequacy of that model, and I want to explore further with the UK Government what they are doing about it.”
“First, I congratulate you on your new post as deputy leader, Michelle. <BR /> <BR />When it comes to the issue that you asked about, I have to be conscious of the Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations 2024, which are largely concerned with movements between GB and NI. That issue does not sit under my direction or control. We are in a different space when it comes to that. <BR /> <BR />I asked to see some of the inspections that were occurring at, for example, the City Airport, where a sniffer dog has been deployed to identify illegal imports. That is a good measure, and I have asked for consideration to be given to whether there is any scope to increase that. I will also discuss that with Baroness Hayman from the UK Government to see whether we can bring in any further measures in relation to movement between GB and NI.”
“The UK Government are the primary liaison point with the EU. That is the established protocol, so they will continue to do that. I reached out to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and briefed him on Friday, and I am seeking a meeting with Baroness Hayman. Those are my points of contact in the UK, but I am also conscious of North/South relations, and the South of Ireland is, obviously, a member state. I am trying to cover all bases, but the primary contact point with the EU is the UK Government.”
“It is an ever-evolving picture, not just for foot-and-mouth disease but for other threats that I outlined. I hope that we can continue to update the Committee as things progress, because things are moving at a bit of a pace.”
“We have looked at the risk window, and probably a bit before that by going back to the beginning of the year to track movements. If it will be helpful, we can write to the Committee about movements over the past calendar year. <BR /> <BR />The Member's second question is important. For farmers and the industry in Northern Ireland, an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease would be devastating. That is why it was important for me to come here today to make a statement and to ask Members to disseminate the message about vigilance and earlier reporting. If people suspect an outbreak, the quicker that it is reported, the better. The fact that foot-and-mouth disease has been discovered in Hungary, further to the case in Germany, concerns me, and that is why I am here today.”
“Hopefully, it is a matter on which we can come together in order to disseminate the message about vigilance and earlier reporting, because it is key that we do so.”
“Thank you, Patsy, for your question. Although I work with my colleagues across the UK and will be chairing the next inter-ministerial group meeting, I am very conscious that we are on the island of Ireland. We are a single epidemiological unit, and I have a very strong personal relationship with my counterpart in the South, Martin Heydon. Officials, North and South, are also constantly working together. That we rolled out a housing order to combat avian influenza on the island at the same time demonstrates that. We will continue to engage on all the measures being taken. I hope to meet up with Martin soon to talk through the situation, because it is important that we work together. All of us in the House have a role to play.”