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 thank the Member for his important questions. It is essential that we have transparency and accurate information about the movement of poultry litter and manure to the Republic of Ireland. That is needed for animal health and disease control reasons, as well as environmental reasons. DAFM, which is my Department's counterpart in the South, has requirements and systems in place for those purposes. If farmers want to transfer poultry litter and manure to the Republic of Ireland, it is reasonable and fair that they meet the requirements in the South. Those requirements have a purpose and are not simply an exercise in regulation. If there are specific concerns from a specific organisation, I am happy to consider them, and I will respond in writing. <BR /> <BR />You raised another issue that relates to avian influenza.”
“In 2024, Northern Ireland consigned 111,563 tons of poultry litter to Ireland out of a total annual production of chicken manure of approximately 380,000 tons. <BR /> <BR />Due to the current disease outbreak of a highly pathogenic avian influenza in Northern Ireland, a number of restriction zones have been established. Information on the zones can be obtained from the DAERA website. The export of poultry litter from those zones is currently prohibited. There has been no recent change in the arrangements for moving poultry litter to Ireland from outside avian influenza restriction zones.”
“Poultry litter is a mixture of poultry manure and bedding material that is derived from commercial poultry houses. It is classified as a category 2 animal by-product, and it must be disposed of in compliance with certain conditions in order to mitigate disease risks. It can be moved to Ireland only under certain conditions. The exporter must obtain permission from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) by way of a licence to move the poultry litter to Ireland. Once permission from DAFM — the Department in the South — has been obtained, the exporter must request an authorised private veterinary practitioner to verify and certify the poultry litter to Ireland on the relevant export health certificate.”
“My view from the Dispatch Box is that polluters who are polluting Northern Ireland's waterways, be that Belfast lough, Lough Neagh, Lough Erne or elsewhere, need to get their house in order. The sewage and other pollution that is happening in Northern Ireland is not acceptable. I am surprised that there is not more outrage about it, because water quality is being affected. People need to step up and sort out their operations, because, as far as I am concerned, it is not acceptable.”
“That is important, particularly as it would mean that, with an understanding that everyone was being treated fairly, I could look farmers in the eye.”
“Thank you. I will write to the Member about the Connswater river specifically. The water quality in Belfast lough is a concern for me. One of the key contributors to that — the Member referred to it as "matter" — is sewage. There is a need to invest in the waste water infrastructure, but that is the responsibility of the Infrastructure Minister. My responsibility in the Chamber during Question Time is the environment. I have made it clear that the regulatory regime under which Northern Ireland Water operates — the statement of regulatory principles and intent (SORPI), which has been in place since 2007 — is not fit for purpose. I am minded to withdraw from SORPI so that Northern Ireland Water can be put on a par with all of the other polluters in Northern Ireland.”
“I thank the Member for her question. I need specific areas, because Belfast lough is a large area. We can write to the Member with detail around that, because it is important to outline that to you. It is also important that I comment on the water quality more broadly in Belfast lough, my concerns around that and what we need to do to fix it.”
“Monitoring is also undertaken for chemical pollutants. Those parameters contribute to the assessment of the ecological and chemical status of Belfast lough, the results of which are published in official statistics by my Department.”
“Water quality in Belfast lough is assessed in multiple ways by my Department. Under the Quality of Bathing Water Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008, bathing water quality in Belfast lough is assessed weekly throughout the bathing season, which is from 1 June to 15 September, at Helen’s Bay, Crawfordsburn, Brompton, which is a candidate bathing water site, Ballyholme and Groomsport and in adjacent inflowing rivers. Shellfish water protected areas (SWPAs) in Belfast lough are also frequently monitored for microbial contamination and chemical pollutants. <BR /> <BR />The general water quality of Belfast lough is assessed under the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017. The lough is assessed for several biological quality indicators and for nutrient and oxygen levels.”
“I am aware of that issue, because forestry sits in my Department. The Farming with Nature transition scheme, which will come out this year, is an actions-based scheme and will help with some element of the problem. The further schemes that will roll out next year will have a wider implication for it. The Forest Service also has grant schemes for tree planting. There are quite a lot of schemes to support people with that, but I am conscious of the prevalence of ash dieback, and it is obviously of concern. The Forest Service is working through that, particularly in the context of the recent storms.”
“That is probably the first invite of this calendar year to make a farm visit. I am delighted to accept it, because making such visits is a highlight of the job. I look forward to taking up the invitation.”
“They include planting new hedgerows, farmland tree planting, creating riparian buffer strips and retention of winter stubble and multi-species winter cover crops. <BR /> <BR />I plan to say more about the Farming with Nature package at the Balmoral show, which I am looking forward to, together with opening dates and future phases, subject to business cases and legislation being in place.”
“The Farming with Nature package is one of my top priorities. It is my ambition to scale up nature-friendly farming, with all farmers being rewarded for delivering environmental public goods alongside food production and that Farming with Nature will become an important enterprise on farms. The package will be introduced through a phased approach, with the aim of increasing the extent, quality and connectivity of habitats in the farmed landscape in and outside designated sites and priority habitat areas. <BR /> <BR />I plan to launch the first phase of the package — the Farming with Nature transition scheme — later this year. It will include measures to increase the extent of habitats and connectivity on-farm.”
“I will write to the Member to share my Department's two bits of analysis. The detailed differential impact analysis, which shows the different sectors affected, states that the dairy sector is most likely to be affected more than others in Northern Ireland. That is obviously a concern for me. Hopefully, that analysis, alongside others, will contribute to an informed debate on the issue. I am disappointed that Treasury continues to rely on its analysis, because my strong view is that it is incorrect.”
“I have outlined that fact to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and I will be happy to lay the correspondence in the Assembly Library so that Members can see it. The UK Government have an opportunity to listen to the views not only of farmers but of the Assembly and from across the UK and to find a way forward on the issue that protects family farms.”
“Thank you, Mr Crawford, for your important question. My Department's analysis clearly demonstrates that there will be a disproportionate and detrimental impact in Northern Ireland, because we are made up of a patchwork quilt of family farms, and that is where the impact will be felt. I plead again from the Dispatch Box for the UK Government to rethink the policy. They need to focus on the people who take advantage of agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR) by buying farms as a tax avoidance measure. The money can be found by doing that, not by endangering the future of farming across the UK. <BR /> <BR />Measures can be put in place to protect family farms while dealing with people who abuse the system.”
“That will be done in co-design with stakeholders, including the Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster (YCFU), and will actively consider the provision of financial support. Last week, I put on record in the House my personal commitment to ensuring that the new Farming for the Generations scheme is open for delivery to young farmers and new entrants by autumn 2026.”
“Thank you. I will stick to my two minutes. The Farming for the Generations pilot scheme, which is included in the sustainable agriculture programme, will be the policy instrument for supporting generational renewal. I am pleased to say that the scheme, which was launched in autumn 2024, has already proven to be very popular, with strong take-up reported. Based on previous experience of succession-planning interventions, the Farming for the Generations pilot scheme is an initial programme that will provide evidence for the development of the main scheme. It seeks to identify the key barriers and to propose financial interventions, thereby developing solutions that are scalable. I have asked my officials to expedite the development of the main Farming for the Generations scheme.”
“Farmers are encouraged to seek tax advice from an appropriate professional before taking any decisions. I wrote to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 11 February this year to voice, once again, my concerns about the impact of the policy change on our local farmers and to suggest a potential mitigation measure for the planned changes to inheritance tax. I asked that he raise it with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I will do all that I can within my remit as AERA Minister to support the farming community in Northern Ireland on the issue.”
“<BR /> <BR />In December 2024, my Department undertook further analysis of the impact of the inheritance tax changes on local farms. That analysis built on the original analysis that had been undertaken in November. As well as land value, it took into account the value of buildings, residential property, livestock and machinery. The analysis found that just under half of all farms in Northern Ireland have agricultural and business property values exceeding £1 million and that those farms account for around 80% of the total land that is farmed in Northern Ireland. That staggering statistic highlights why there is such overwhelming fear in our farming community. <BR /> <BR />There are actions that farmers can take to reduce future tax liability and mitigate the impact of the changes, but those will depend on individual circumstances.”
“I have on many occasions expressed my concerns to devolved Agriculture Ministers, as well as to the Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Daniel Zeichner, who responded to me in January of this year with a letter, in which he confirmed that he had shared with the Chancellor and her office the analysis that my Department had undertaken on the impact of the inheritance tax changes. I received a response on 11 February 2025 from the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury stating that the UK Government believe that their reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief get the balance right between supporting farms and fixing public finances in a fair way. I disagree.”
“With your permission, Mr Deputy Speaker, I will group questions 3 and 6 for answer. <BR /> <BR />I met the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in October last year to emphasise my concerns about the impact of the planned inheritance tax changes on our family farms. A letter was issued to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 18 November 2024 by the First Minister, the deputy First Minister, the Minister of Finance and me that raised concerns about the disproportionately adverse impact on family farms in Northern Ireland compared with that in other jurisdictions, given that Northern Ireland has some of the highest agricultural land prices in the UK and Ireland.”
“The Member raises a number of issues. What I am doing is taking forward the will of the Assembly. The Assembly voted unanimously at Final Stage in 2022 for the climate change legislation. I am also realising the opportunities from decarbonisation. What I do not do is negate the other challenges in our society, particularly those for farming. I have spoken quite a lot about TB and the actions that we are taking to address it. On ammonia, there is significant ongoing engagement with stakeholders. What I am doing is based upon science and evidence and the need to stay on the right side of the law. It is important that I do that. These are difficult issues, and I will continue to lead on them.”
“The Northern Ireland climate commissioner will be a vital champion for positive climate action here by closely monitoring our delivery and making recommendations so that we can maintain momentum towards net zero.”
“The Northern Ireland climate commissioner will be a key part of a world-leading climate advice structure here in Northern Ireland and will work alongside the just transition commission, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) and the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP). The Northern Ireland climate commissioner will ensure that issues specific to Northern Ireland are fully considered when charting our transition to net zero. We recognise that the science that we rely on in relation to climate change is constantly evolving, and the climate commissioner will have a key role to play in amplifying the key messages to ensure that new approaches and policies reflect best practice globally.”
“The regulations to establish that body have been approved by the First Minister and deputy First Minister, and a draft has been laid before the Assembly. A positive vote in the Assembly will be required to approve the regulations. The Business Committee will, hopefully, schedule the debate and a vote on the matter in due course.”
“Once the regulations are in place to establish the commission in law, a recruitment competition to appoint members to the commission will be undertaken via a public appointments process. <BR /> <BR />Now that our first carbon budget has been set, I will bring forward as soon as possible a draft of Northern Ireland's first climate action plan to Executive colleagues and seek their agreement to publish the plan for a 16-week statutory public consultation. I am fully committed to delivering a climate action plan that is transformational, evidence-based, informed by stakeholders and in line with my commitment to a just transition. <BR /> <BR />The requirement to establish a Northern Ireland climate commissioner sits under the Executive Office.”
“I have delivered progress across a number of areas. Regulations that place climate change reporting duties on specified public bodies came into operation on 3 May 2024. Regulations that set in law Northern Ireland's first three carbon budgets for the periods 2023-27, 2028-2032 and 2033-37 and a new emissions reduction target for 2040 were approved by the Assembly on 10 December last year and set the statutory framework for our pathway to net zero. <BR /> <BR />A 10-week public consultation on the establishment of a just transition commission closed on 20 January 2025. My Department is analysing the feedback received, and the findings from the consultation will be used to inform the content of the final regulations that will establish the commission.”
“The Member touches upon an important issue: it is about not just the financial impact on farmers with regard to compensation but the wider issue around that. There is also an environmental issue in terms of greenhouse gas emissions as a result of overstocking. That is something that I am determined to deal with. I acknowledge those issues and the pressure that they put on farmers. I know that some people feel that we are perhaps moving too fast on this, but I want that delivery plan from the stakeholder group at the end of March, and I want to announce the way forward in April. This is so important to the farming community. That is why we are moving at pace. I assure all Members in the House that the way forward is based upon science and evidence, and it is important that we take all our decisions on the basis of both.”
“I accept that we have to consider wildlife as part of a holistic strategy on TB. I am also conscious of the judicial review in relation to the previous wildlife intervention and the outcome of that. Going forward, as I have said, there will be three pillars to our work to eradicate TB in Northern Ireland, and those are people, cattle and wildlife. I am very much committed to that. As part of that, we will move forward with a consultation on wildlife intervention in respect of TB.”
“I am determined to do that in partnership with others.”
“I recognise that, when it comes to tackling TB, there needs to be a holistic approach, and that is why we are taking forward a three-pillared approach of people, cattle and wildlife. We are engaging with stakeholders so that we can bring forward that delivery plan very soon. However, there are actions that farmers can take. That does not negate the role that my Department can, and should, play in relation to this, but farmers can play a role, particularly around biosecurity by, for example, reducing the risk from slurry and farmyard manure, the risk from wildlife, the risk from neighbouring herds and the risk from buying in cattle. Those are examples that I see on farms across Northern Ireland where farmers are taking forward that good practice. We need to mainstream that and work with everyone so that we can drive down TB.”
“There is a significant cost associated with bovine TB in Northern Ireland, particularly for farmers. I understand the mental health impact that this is having on farmers across Northern Ireland, but it is also having an impact on my Department. It is no secret that, in the Budget settlement for the next financial year, we got very low levels of funding to take forward the compensation rates for TB. However, I engaged with the previous Finance Minister and got an assurance that monitoring round bids will be prioritised towards TB compensation. I am grateful for that, and I will continue to work with the Finance Minister so that we can do the compensation for farmers but also take forward the wider eradication strategy associated with TB.”
“<BR /> <BR />I immediately agreed with one of the CVO's recommendations to set up a new TB partnership steering group to work with officials in the development of a new delivery plan. The new group has now met on two occasions to consider the CVO's review, which will include remaining actions from the 2022 strategy. The group will first focus on identifying the immediate priorities for action within the review and the steps needed to put them in place. I have asked that officials report to me on the draft delivery plan by the end of March. It is my intention that the new plan will clearly set out our priorities to be taken forward in the time ahead to tackle the unacceptable levels of bovine TB in Northern Ireland.”
“As Members will be aware, Brian Dooher, Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), was recently asked by me to carry out a comprehensive review of bovine tuberculosis in Northern Ireland. That review, which was published in November, considered the actions contained in the 2022 bovine TB eradication strategy, along with a number of new proposals brought forward by the CVO. The proposals that he has identified are based on three key pillars: the importance of ensuring that we all — government and industry — work in partnership to reduce disease levels; proposals to limit and prevent the spread of TB from cattle to cattle; and proposals to address the transmission of bovine TB from wildlife to cattle.”
“Sadly, however, that does not surprise me when you take into account the fact that the previous DUP leader said that he could live with 40,000 job losses due to Brexit. We all should be about safeguarding and creating jobs, not wrecking our economy because of some ideological purism. Therefore, I urge Members to vote against the prayer of annulment and ensure that my Department continues to retain the necessary livestock identification and traceability enforcement powers.”
“The Member has asked a very specific question about liabilities, but it depends where the liabilities would be borne. The main thing, as I have outlined in my response to the prayer of annulment, is that the industry was largely unaware that this lacuna had arisen. My predecessor was offered the opportunity to update domestic law back in 2021 and chose not to. As Minister, I am working through this and many other issues in order to rectify the situation that we are in. It is important that I state that. <BR /> <BR />For years, our farmers have benefited from a world-leading system of animal traceability. The notion that the DUP would seek to annul an update because it originates from the EU is both bizarre and reckless, playing fast and loose with people's jobs and livelihoods and the future of our agri-food industry.”
“Given the risks that were raised by my officials when they provided oral evidence to the AERA Committee in public session and that have been further highlighted in the debate, the loss of my Department's enforcement powers would become widely known. Consequently, there would be a potential increased risk of non-compliance. Even if that were not widespread, some keepers could challenge or, potentially, ignore any enforcement action that the Department would take to address such wrongdoing. Not only could the Department not pursue prosecutions for the more serious cases of non-compliance, but even routine action for more minor contraventions, which are normally resolved by movement restrictions and the issuing of warning letters, could be called into question.”
“However, as I have already stated, prior to the regulations coming into force, the industry was largely unaware of the gap in the Department's enforcement powers. Therefore, the impact was relatively minor as most enforcement activities continued at risk. Should Members vote to annul the regulations, my Department's domestic livestock traceability legislation will become inoperable again.”
“<BR /> <BR />Members may note that, while the industry was, as far as I understand, completely unaware of the fact that my Department was without a fully functioning enforcement regime between April 2021 and when the regulations came into force in January 2025, during that period, my Department took a proportionate approach that continued to take all possible measures short of pursuing legal action in cases where breaches of livestock identification and movement requirements had been identified. That included continuing to apply herd restrictions and issuing warning letters where wrongdoing was confirmed. Doing so ensured that there was no known reduction in animal health standards, thereby reducing any risks that could have arisen to public health and food safety.”
“There would also be potential impacts for our future trading relationships, as a basic element of any agri-food agreement is to provide assurance about the origins and provenance of the product. If we cannot demonstrate that we take livestock traceability seriously, why would anyone want to trade with us? In addition, failure to implement those requirements, as with all directly applicable European legislation, could lead to infraction proceedings being pursued by the EU.”
“Whilst I appreciate that most herd livestock owners comply with the law, there is, unfortunately, a minority who may not. Enforcement powers that are now in place following the making of the regulations are necessary to ensure that any potential non-compliance can be investigated and action taken as appropriate. That is important to ensure that the legal obligations to correctly and appropriately identify livestock and record their movements, as set out in EU legislation, apply at all times, thereby reducing any potential risks to public health. <BR /> <BR />Other possible risks of not having a functioning livestock traceability enforcement regime could include negative implications for consumer confidence in our meat products, as well as possible trade and reputational damage to the livestock industry here.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is important to register to the House the consequences if the prayer of annulment passes. Members will agree that those technical regulations are important. Should they be annulled, my Department's existing domestic legislation would refer to repealed EU instruments and would not be operable. We, Northern Ireland plc, would be in the position of not having a legally enforceable livestock traceability regime. <BR /> <BR />Annulling the regulations will not negate European law or its application here. The livestock identification requirements that were set down in EU animal health law will still apply in Northern Ireland regardless: it is the Department's domestic legislation that will be affected and its ability to enforce those identification and traceability requirements.”
“The task has proved more complex than anticipated, and has resulted in an extended timeline before the legislation to fully implement animal health law IRM requirements will be ready to be laid. Given the extended deadline for introducing the full IRM legislation, work resumed at pace to progress these interim regulations. <BR /> <BR />Before I continue, I want to put on record my thanks to all the officials in my Department who have been working on that. I do not find it appropriate to level any allegations of incompetence in that regard. Those officials are highly competent and dedicated individuals. We are spending lots of time, night and day, to implement the Windsor framework and ensure the safety of our agri-food system. That is what those officials are doing. I put on record my thanks to them.”
“My predecessor decided not to proceed with the regulations. Negotiations between the UK Government and the European Commission, including indications that they might have included potential changes to requirements in animal health law on prefix codes for Northern Ireland livestock tags, meant that work on the regulations was further delayed until a position on that was agreed. My Department is also progressing legislation to fully implement the identification, registration and movement requirements in animal health law. There had been an expectation that that legislation would be ready in autumn 2024, thus negating the need for these regulations. It is the first time that Northern Ireland has fully advanced domestic legislation to introduce EU regulations without the complete support of Whitehall.”
“The regulations allow my Department to utilise the same enforcement provisions that have always been applied but to do so with legal certainty. <BR /> <BR />It is important that I address the criticisms that were raised in the Chamber about the request to hold discussion on the item in private session at Committee. I was very conscious of the risk of non-compliance that could occur due to the knowledge that a lack of legal certainty existed around the powers of enforcement. That has now been rectified. That is why we sought to discuss the matter in private session. <BR /> <BR />There has been a delay in introducing the regulations because it was not possible for officials to put in place the necessary legislative fix through the introduction of regulations prior to the former Minister's ceasing to hold office in October 2022.”
“It enables enforcement provisions that relate to the use of the new XI prefix tags that would not be possible without it, such as where there is failure to attach approved ear tags within existing legal timescales, where someone removes an approved ear tag from an animal without permission or where approved ear tags are altered or defaced. <BR /> <BR />The regulations make a number of other minor changes, such as broadening the definition of the term "animal" to include the crossing of species and increasing the timescale for the re-identification of sheep and goats that are imported from third countries. It is important to emphasise that the regulations do not introduce any new enforcement powers. Therefore, herd and flock keepers will not notice any difference.”
“Members may be aware that, on 24 June last year, my Department implemented the new prefix of XI and its numerical equivalent, 899, on electronic identification devices that are required to uniquely identify animals from Northern Ireland. That requirement stems directly from animal health law. A transition period, which allows the application of UK or XI tags, is in place. However, Members may be aware that the transition period will end on 30 June this year. After that date, XI prefix tags must be applied. The legislative change in the regulations therefore ensures that domestic legislation is updated to reflect that change.”
“I should not need to remind the House of how one suspect movement of cattle or sheep has the capability to wreak havoc on farming, the health and welfare of animals and the economy of Northern Ireland. That is why my Department needs the powers that are in the regulations to investigate non-compliance issues. Where contraventions are detected, remedial actions range from the issue of warning letters, application of movement restrictions and, in the most severe cases, criminal prosecutions. <BR /> <BR />The regulations also update the details of what is considered to be an approved livestock ID tag in order to align with the requirements of the new XI prefix tags.”
“To put it another way, farmers need to provide that information so that we know where the animals are right now, where they have been and where they are going. In a disease outbreak scenario, having solid, accurate details on all movements is vital, because, as we have seen, diseases of animals do not respect borders. <BR /> <BR />Through the regulations, my Department is ensuring that there are enforcement powers to make sure that farmers comply with the mandatory reporting requirements and that operational offences and penalties are available, should they choose not to. Quite simply, if a person wilfully fails to record a livestock movement, that is an offence, and so it should be.”