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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“<BR /> <BR />The existing domestic livestock identification and traceability legislation enables my Department to enforce the agreed European standards for the identification, movement and traceability of livestock. Indeed, the key components that are set out in European law reflect what any robust livestock traceability system should look like the world over. That is: the requirement for farmers to uniquely identify animals; the requirement for farmers to notify the appropriate competent authority of when animals move on to and off a farm; and the requirement to advise the competent authority of where those animals have been moved to, be that to another farm, a market, an abattoir or a destination that is beyond Northern Ireland.”
“However, I have, and I will set out why. It is important to emphasise that animal health law, in general, does not make any changes to the livestock identification and traceability regime, nor are there any fundamental changes to the processes or procedures for livestock keepers or the Department as a result of the regulations. As the Department's domestic livestock identification and movement enforcement legislation refers to the previous repealed EU instruments, it needs to be updated to ensure that it is operable. The regulations are technical. They do not represent a change in policy, but they ensure that Northern Ireland's domestic legislation refers to the correct pieces of EU legislation.”
“That has been the case for a number of years, and it is supported in domestic law by departmental legislation, which describes how livestock should be identified; the significant life events that need to be reported to the Department to ensure robust farm-to-fork traceability; and the offences and penalties that apply if those rules are not adhered to. However, the EU legislation that previously set out those livestock identification and traceability requirements has been revoked and replaced by new EU legislation, which is known as the animal health law. <BR /> <BR />The animal health law, which was published in March 2016 and applied from April 2021, is listed in annex 2 of the Windsor framework and automatically applies in Northern Ireland. My predecessor chose not to update domestic law following the changes in April 2021.”
“The Animals (Identification, Records, Movement and Enforcement) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025, which, you will be glad to know, I will refer to as "the regulations", ensure that there are appropriate powers to enforce EU law on livestock identification and traceability. It is important to note that farm-to-fork traceability here has been underpinned by European law since the late 1990s and that the regime that those regulations enforce is broadly the same as it always has been. <BR /> <BR />To set the context, EU law sets out a system for the identification, registration and movement of livestock.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. It is concerning and, to be honest, frankly ludicrous that we are considering the prayer of annulment. This is perhaps one of the most irresponsible legislative motions to have been tabled in this mandate. Many wax lyrical about their support for the agri-food industry, but nothing could be further from the truth for anyone who speaks and votes in support of the prayer of annulment: they will be putting ideology above people's jobs and livelihoods and our agri-food industry. <BR /> <BR />I will respond to a number of issues that have been raised.”
“<BR /> <BR />I have done all I can to listen to the concerns from the Committee and to balance that against the value-for-money requirement for me as Minister. I appreciate the concerns; they are genuinely held. Hopefully, we can agree the SR today, continue to engage with the Committee around future SRs and find a process to give a better, longer timescale for analysis of those.”
“Obviously, there are challenges going forward. People will have different views, and I respect those different views. What we try to do in APSG is come together collectively and move forward on a scheme so that, generally, people can understand and move towards consensus. Some element of my influence is that I devolve that to the APSG and allow them to have those views around those issues. It is important that we give APSG its place in developing agriculture policy. <BR /> <BR />The issue of the transfer of entitlements was raised in an intervention from William: hopefully, I have addressed that. John raised the issue of the sustainable agriculture programme being about support for financial and environmental sustainability. Both of those go hand in hand. Lastly, Diana, in her contribution, welcomed the move towards three hectares.”
“<BR /> <BR />On Farming for the Generations, hopefully I have outlined my commitment to ensuring that we will consider whether there can be a financial incentive as part of that. We will do that in engagement as part of that co-design process. I am also conscious of the issue around business cases. <BR /> <BR />On the APSG, I put on record my thanks to the stakeholders who engaged with the APSG. They gave a lot of them time engaging with the Department. Their views are articulated openly and strongly in the APSG, and organisations are given the opportunity to go back to their own organisation to develop a view and bring it back. The process of developing the new schemes as a farm support development programme is not easy. Look, for example, at Wales and how they got it wrong in terms of engagement with stakeholders.”
“<BR /> <BR />With regard to the comments from Michelle McIlveen around the issue, hopefully I have addressed some of the issues on scrutiny of the SR. Michelle has been consistent in relation to that issue, and I think they are genuine concerns over how we can scrutinise secondary legislation. <BR /> <BR />As regards progressing this, the timescales are not what I would have desired. That arose as a result of losing the ring-fencing of the Budget on 30 October. As a result of that, we had to wait for the draft Budget to be agreed. Unfortunately, it was not agreed until just before Christmas. Once I had the certainty of the draft Budget, it allowed me to proceed with the SR. However, we will look at this and how we can improve the relationship with the Committee to enable scrutiny of the SR. It is important that we do that.”
“We do not rule out having a financial incentive as part of that. As part of the co-design process, however, we have to work out exactly what will work and how we can have a business case that will support it. Value for money is key for me, because we are in difficult financial times and want to ensure that we maximise the benefit associated with any funding that we get to go towards farmers. We will actively work on that. <BR /> <BR />I spoke to a senior official in my Department about the concern about a deficit in entitlements. We will explore that and actively monitor the issue. If any concerns arise from that, we will explore options to address the issue. I totally get the concerns around that, and we will continue to be alert to it.”
“The SR will allow us to bring forward the transition scheme this year and wider schemes next year. That is critical, and it is important that we progress those at pace. Mr McNulty then pivoted from the SR a wee bit to the issue of rural development. The loss of the rural development programme arose as a result of Brexit, so Mr McNulty's ire in relation to that should not be guided towards me. I am working towards a new rural affairs policy in my Department. That is key, and we will consult on that later in the year. <BR /> <BR />I appreciate Áine's comments and the engagement that I have had with Sinn Féin on the SR recently. I understand the concerns over the young farmers' payment and the regional reserve, and that is why I have given my commitment to bringing forward the Farming for the Generations initiative on the record today.”
“That is what one element of Farming for the Generations will do. That is absolutely key, and I hope that I have provided reassurance on that. <BR /> <BR />I am conscious of the Speaker's ruling on keeping to the subject matter. I will do that, but my understanding from farming unions is that their meeting today with Treasury on inheritance tax was disappointing. Treasury was not listening and was not willing to address farmers' concerns. I say again that the moves will have a disproportionate and detrimental impact on Northern Ireland and that they should not proceed. <BR /> <BR />I will get back to the SR. The other issue that Justin McNulty raised was Lough Neagh and supporting environmental farming schemes. That is why we are bringing forward Farming with Nature.”
“That is important. The clear message that I got from the rally that I attended at the Eikon exhibition centre, which was organised by the UFU in response to the issues around inheritance tax — I will come to those — was that it is important that the scheme is prioritised for active farmers. It is not easy to do that, folks. It is complicated to take that measure, but it is important that we do so, and the SR will allow us to do that. <BR /> <BR />On the issue of inheritance tax, I am glad to see the interest that the Farming for the Generations programme has attracted. My commitment is that we continue to roll out the pilot initiative and move towards rolling out the full initiative next year. The issue of inheritance tax makes that initiative really important in enabling people to plan for succession.”
“That is my commitment. We will do that with the Committee. The other aspect is the wider sustainable agriculture programme. It is a wide and complex programme. That is why it was important that we reached out to brief your party representatives on that. That is essential. <BR /> <BR />I hope that that addresses some of the points that you raised. I thank you, Chair, and the Deputy Chair for your engagement on the matter over the past weeks. I hope that people can see that I have come from a genuine place to move the SR forward. I know that it is difficult and that there may be lessons to be learnt, but I hope that we can move forward and will be able to support farmers in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />On Justin McNulty's comments about the definitions of an "active farmer" and an "inactive farmer", I outlined those in the Chamber.”
“<BR /> <BR />I think that we are all agreed that we want to ensure that funding is prioritised for active farmers: the message around that is clear. When it comes to the timescales for that, it is important to understand that there will be a lead-in, so, if people want to transfer their entitlements, they will be able to. There will be the ability to do that formally online from March, April and May of next year. I will write to the Committee to give it a bit more information on the transfer of those entitlements, so that it is clear on that. <BR /> <BR />You also spoke a wee bit about the consideration of the SR, Chair. I will speak about that. We can do that better. We are conscious that the Committee has a scrutiny role, and I value that. We will look again at how we can improve the consideration and scrutiny of the SR.”
“That is not without its challenges. We see those here today not just in our debate on the details of the schemes but in how we work with stakeholders to bring those about. We will have many elements to deal with in Northern Ireland, such as supply chain schemes and a crisis framework. We will work to bring those forward, but I have been getting a sense of the priorities of stakeholders and the AERA Committee. I am hearing clearly that Farming for the Generations is one of the priorities, so we will move at pace on that scheme. Alongside that, it is important to bring forward environmental farming schemes such as Farming with Nature. We will progress those schemes, but we are working in a constrained resource environment in which to bring them forward.”
“<BR /> <BR />As I have explained, the Farming for the Generations scheme included in SAP will be the policy instrument to encourage and drive increased generational renewal and remove the barriers that exist to the planned succession of farms across Northern Ireland. Any delay to the opening of the scheme will put at risk the budget that has been allocated to the programme and, indeed, risks delaying farm payments until late November, unfortunately. <BR /> <BR />I will address Members' comments as best I can. The Chair of the AERA Committee, Mr Butler, made several points. We are bringing forward many aspects of the sustainable agriculture programme. Leaving the EU has brought lots of challenges for the UK, because England, Scotland, Wales and we here have to develop new farm support development programmes.”
“I thank Members for their contributions. As I explained at the outset, the regulations are essential to ensure that I can deliver for our farming community by opening the farm sustainability transition payment as planned on 3 March and provide the legal basis for the roll-out of other schemes under the sustainable agriculture programme, including the suckler cow scheme, the Farming with Nature package and the knowledge transfer scheme. As I said, I understand that the ending of the young farmers' payment and the new entrants' scheme in particular is of concern, and I hope that the written responses to the Committee and my remarks today will provide the necessary assurances. I will go through Members' remarks once I have finished making these opening remarks in my conclusion.”
“<BR /> <BR />Active consideration is being given to how we can optimise the approach to the Committee's handling of the scrutiny of SRs. I value the input of Committee members and will continue to take on board feedback, as I did on the five hectares and three hectares issue. I am happy to meet the Chair and the Deputy Chair as and when necessary. <BR /> <BR />That concludes my overview of the Farm Sustainability (Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025. I am happy to answer any questions in response to the debate.”
“In addition, if there were significantly more entitlements, they would all have to be reduced in value, as the amount of money that is available in the scheme will not increase. Conversely, if a significant gap looks likely to emerge with an entitlements deficit, I will wish for officials to consider the relevant options in response. <BR /> <BR />The issue of entitlements is complex. I recognise that. I am therefore happy to receive further correspondence on the matter, if any Committee member or Member in the Chamber feels that that is necessary. I have asked my officials to offer briefings to the agriculture spokespersons of the political parties on the sustainable agriculture programme (SAP). The first of those briefings has been organised for, I understand, this Friday.”
“<BR /> <BR />As was set out in correspondence to the Committee last Friday, to deal with concerns that there were not sufficient entitlements to match the land that is available, there are, at present, around 955,000 entitlements for 1,050,000 eligible hectares in Northern Ireland. The number of entitlements is largely determined by the area that was declared in 2015 when entitlements were allocated. One entitlement was allocated for each hectare that was declared. Clearly, a significant area of land is not used each year to activate entitlements and claim payments. That will continue to be the case, and the presence or absence of the regional reserve provisions for young farmers and new entrants will make no significant difference to the gap that exists between entitlements and available land area.”
“<BR /> <BR />In relation to concerns regarding different approaches across the island of Ireland, I intend to discuss succession planning with Minister Martin Heydon, and my officials have already been engaging with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to discuss my Department's new approach in detail. I also note the developments across the border. I read about them weekly in the 'Irish Farmers Journal', and I am keen to see how we can share best practice and work together to achieve generational renewal alongside engagement with my counterparts in England, Scotland and Wales. That engagement continues to provide opportunities for shared learning on how we can improve generational renewal in the sector.”
“I am determined, and I am happy to put on record my personal commitment to ensuring that the new Farming for the Generations scheme is open for delivery to new farmers and young entrants by autumn 2026. With the young farmers' payment scheme and regional reserve applications continuing in 2025 and young farmers' payment applicants able to claim payments up until 2029, the risk of a gap emerging between the old and the new schemes is removed. Alongside Farming with Nature, Farming for the Generations is a key personal priority for me and my Department.”
“It seeks to identify the key barriers and propose financial interventions, thereby developing solutions that are scalable. In helping to address the concerns of the Committee, I have asked my officials to expedite the development of the main Farming for the Generations scheme. That will be done in co-design with stakeholders, including the Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster, and will actively consider the provision of financial support. <BR /> <BR />The policy intent of Farming for the Generations is to encourage and drive increased levels of generational renewal and remove the barriers that exist to planning succession on farms across Northern Ireland.”
“Having just secured ring-fenced Executive funding in the next and future financial years as part of the draft Budget, it is imperative that we bank that achievement by demonstrating strong value for money on every pound spent to support our farmers in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />The Farming for the Generations scheme, included in the sustainable agriculture programme, is a more holistic policy instrument to support generational renewal. I am pleased to say that the pilot scheme that I launched in autumn 2024 has already proven to be very popular, with strong take-up reported. From previous experience of succession planning interventions, the Farming for the Generations pilot provides an initial programme that will provide evidence towards the development of the main scheme.”
“2025 will also be the final year in which new entrants and young farmers can obtain entitlements from the regional reserve. <BR /> <BR />I understand that the ending of these schemes and the time provided for scrutiny of the SR are the main concerns of the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee. I understand those concerns, and I have sought to provide assurance in correspondence that I have sent to the Committee. I also seek to provide assurance today on the Floor. <BR /> <BR />Applications by new entrants over the past 10 years have averaged at about only 10 per year. Unfortunately, we are not making the necessary impact to achieve the generational renewal that is required. As previously set out, those legacy schemes do not meet important value-for-money tests.”
“Entitlements that are not transferred by that date will expire. <BR /> <BR />Currently, farm businesses that are in receipt of the basic payment scheme must be actively engaged in agricultural activity and meet the active farmer definition, and that will continue for FSTP and FSP. These regulations reinstate that active farmer definition in law. The regulations also establish 2025 as the final year for new applications for the young farmers' payment and the regional reserve. Those who apply for the young farmers' payment in 2025 will still be able to claim the full five years up until 2029. Unfortunately, the provision of that payment has not shifted the dial at all regarding the average age of farmers. With 58% of farmers over 55 years of age, a new approach is needed.”
“The draft SR legislates that farm businesses that did not meet specific criteria during a historical reference period, set by DAERA as 2020 and 2021, will not be eligible. That historical years' requirement will not apply to applicants who have set up new farm businesses in any year following 2021. Data indicates that around 1,900 businesses may not meet the specified criteria in 2020 or 2021. I am sure that we agree that that is important and that support should be targeted at active farmers. My Department plans to communicate to those affected by the measures to ensure that support is focused on active farmers during 2025 to enable them to plan effectively. Those impacted on by the historical years exercise will be able to transfer their entitlements, if they choose to do so, by 15 May 2026.”
“I am grateful for the group's support for the SR in order to enable the continued roll-out of the sustainable agriculture programme. <BR /> <BR />I set out my policy intentions for the future of the farm support development programme, now known as the sustainable agriculture programme, in an oral statement to the House on 24 May last year. I promoted the programme at the Balmoral show and regularly in the farming press. My officials have also provided a number of policy briefings to the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee. <BR /> <BR />The SR ensures that the farm sustainability payment (FSP), when it is introduced in 2026, will be directed towards farm businesses actively engaged in agriculture activity.”
“<BR /> <BR />I have spoken for a long time about the development of these new schemes, which were developed in partnership with the agricultural policy stakeholders group (APSG). The group is comprised of key stakeholders including the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU), the Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers' Association (NIAPA), the Dairy Council, the Northern Ireland Meat Exporters Association (NIMEA), the Northern Ireland Environment Link (NIEL), the British Veterinary Association (BVA), the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) and the Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association (NIGTA). I apologise for all the acronyms. <BR /> <BR />I put on record my thanks to the APSG for its tireless work in the co-design process to get us to this point. This has brought a robustness to the development process.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I am grateful for the opportunity to propose the motion. The Farm Sustainability (Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 give my Department the legal powers to introduce the farm sustainability transition payment (FSTP), which is expected to attract approximately 24,000 applications from active farm businesses in 2025. The regulations also include a number of more general provisions intended to enable schemes under the sustainable agriculture programme, such as the suckler cow scheme, the Farming with Nature package and knowledge schemes, whilst also providing the powers to spend the earmarked budget of over £329 million.”
“It was really important that I moved on that, and it is in place from today. The biosecurity measures are absolutely key.”
“It is also important to ensure that feed, water and bedding are stored to minimise the risk of virus contamination; effective vermin control; ensuring that only essential movements take place; ensuring that records are kept, including of poultry, captive birds and egg movements; ensuring that buildings that house birds are maintained; and ensuring that there is no direct contact with poultry or other captive birds on neighbouring premises. Ducks and geese should not be kept in the same pen or building as other poultry species. There are further, enhanced measures for premises with over 500 poultry. Those are mandatory measures that have been in place since 18 January, and they reduce the risk 44-fold. It is important that we implement them. The housing order will reduce the risk twofold.”
“The biosecurity measures that need to apply to farms are mandatory, and have been since Saturday 18 January. To be honest, we should not be in a situation where we are discussing putting them in place now. They should already be in place. Those minimum biosecurity measures apply to all keepers. The poultry industry has been excellent in stepping forward to implement the measures. That is not where my concern is: it is to ensure that we are aware of the precautions that we can take. They are outlined on my departmental website. The actions that people can take are precautions to avoid the transfer of virus contamination between premises, including the cleansing and disinfection of equipment.”
“<BR /> <BR />As I said, I spoke to the president of the Ulster Farmers' Union last night, and I continue to engage with people on the issue. I am sorry to keep emphasising this, but it is important. It is really important that we communicate and share the biosecurity measures that can be implemented on farms so that people are aware of the actions that they can take to keep the disease out.”
“I have already addressed a number of those questions and I am happy to go over them. I have been in regular engagement with the Chief Veterinary Officer. I have spoken to him a number of times today, as well as yesterday, late last night and throughout the outbreak. I am in constant contact with him. It is important that I put on record my thanks to the veterinary service staff in my Department, who have worked night and day on this issue. They were on site until late last night dealing with it. I am very thankful for the service that they have given. The primary contact with the farmer is through the veterinary service staff, who have been engaging with the individual. It is important that I state that.”
“We continue to encourage flock keepers to register with the Department because, if they do so, we can give out communications. We have extensive information on our website, which I encourage people to visit. Communication is key, and I encourage anyone who has not registered to do so.”
“I regularly engage with the Ulster Farmers' Union. I spoke to its president last night about avian influenza. We were collectively of the strong opinion that it is a highly pathogenic disease that can, unfortunately, affect farms across Northern Ireland — it does not discriminate — and our thoughts are with the farmer who has been affected. It is really important that the Chamber, the agriculture industry and the Ulster Farmers' Union come together, as we are doing, to emphasise the importance of biosecurity and of taking the measures that we can to manage the risk of this highly pathogenic outbreak.”
“Thank you, Mr Buchanan, for your question. I totally get the concern about this. It is important that we support our farming industry. The poultry industry is worth a significant amount to the economy in Northern Ireland. As I said, we will cover compensation for the birds culled. I am working within the legislative framework that previous Ministers used in past incursions, and I am taking the same approach that has been adopted by GB and Ireland. I know that officials are on-site at the farm, supporting the operation. We are continuing to engage in that. I work within the vires that I have as Minister, and I will continue to support the farming industry in the time ahead.”
“It is really important that I emphasise that my thoughts are with the farmers who have been affected. They provide a great example of good practice, and my heart goes out to them over what has happened with avian influenza. That is why, as politicians and as a farming community, we need to come together. <BR /> <BR />The current advice from the Public Health Agency is that avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds and that the risk to the general public's health is very low. The Food Standards Agency advice notes that avian influenza poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers and that properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.”
“I spoke to Martin when we had a meeting on this last Tuesday. I also engaged with him yesterday. We work in close cooperation, which is why there is a housing order in place across the island of Ireland. I have also engaged with the Secretary of State today.”
“Thank you, Mr McGlone. We will cover compensation for the birds culled. I am in a difficult budgetary position, but I will prioritise that because it is important that we prioritise farmers in Northern Ireland, and that is what I am doing. I am working within the legislative framework and the position that was adopted during previous incursions by previous Ministers. My approach to compensation is the same as that of GB and Ireland. It is important for me to give the reassurance that we will cover compensation for the birds that have been culled. <BR /> <BR />Ireland is a single epidemiological area, and North/South cooperation is important. I have been in constant engagement with the relevant Minister down South, Martin Heydon, as I was with his predecessor, Charlie McConalogue.”
“I note that, when I announced that housing order, people criticised me for it, but I proceeded because I thought that it was important to introduce it. I know that it is inconvenient for people, but I proceeded with it, and it is in place from today. <BR /> <BR />Again, I emphasise that biosecurity is the most effective measure that we can take to manage avian influenza. It reduces the risk 44-fold. As Mr McAleer outlined, the flock was housed, so it is really important that we come together on the issue and give that very strong message about biosecurity in Northern Ireland. It is important that we all emphasise its importance on all farms. I commend the farms across Northern Ireland and the president of the Ulster Farmers' Union for his leadership on the issue. Collectively, we can emphasise the point about biosecurity.”
“The Department is responding very swiftly. This winter, avian influenza arrived in England last year on 5 November. Then we had an issue with three wild birds that were found in Northern Ireland on 16 and 17 January. Immediately upon that occurring, I declared an avian influenza prevention zone across the whole of Northern Ireland on Saturday 18 January. Note that I implemented that for the whole of Northern Ireland. Then there was an avian influenza outbreak at a nature reserve near Magherafelt on 7 February. A zone was immediately introduced as a result of that. Very quickly thereafter, I engaged with my counterpart in the South, and we announced that a housing order would be introduced. We announced that on 12 February.”
“The most important thing is biosecurity on the farm. That is critical. Those measures are mandatory as a result of the order that I made last month, and there are many aspects to it. They are available on the DAERA website, which outlines the requirements. It is about ensuring that you follow good practice. We are ensuring disinfection. We are managing, for example, effective vermin control. We are ensuring correct record-keeping and that there is no direct contact with poultry and other captive birds in neighbouring premises. There are many actions that we can take, and the details are on the DAERA website.”
“There are many stories from across England and Scotland of farms having been really badly affected as a result of avian influenza, and we have worked really hard in conjunction with the poultry industry to keep it out of Northern Ireland. Sadly, it has arrived, and we are working to address it. There is one example of late in England of avian influenza coming on board a farm and over one million birds, unfortunately, had to be culled. That highlights the importance of us all working together on the issue and of giving that biosecurity message to everyone.”
“Thank you, Mr McAleer, for your question. The contamination highlights the highly pathogenic nature of avian influenza. The poultry farm in question is a really excellent operation, and, as I understand as a result of initial investigations, the flock was housed. That highlights the importance of biosecurity here in Northern Ireland and of doing all that we can to protect the national flock. Biosecurity can have a 44-fold impact on dealing with the outbreak, and that is why I moved very quickly to put a zone across the whole of Northern Ireland, mandating those biosecurity measures. In addition, I have moved on housing.”
“I spoke to the president of the Ulster Farmers' Union last night, and we agreed that the most important thing is to emphasise the message about biosecurity and how key it is. <BR /> <BR />My Department will pay the compensation for the birds that are culled as a result of the outbreak. It is important to support the poultry industry, and I will work within my Department's budget to cover the compensation, because it is important that we give that assistance to the farming community in Northern Ireland. That is what I am committed to doing.”
“First, I thank the officials in my Department, who were working all weekend on site until late last night to deal with the issue. I spoke to the Chief Veterinary Officer late last night, and he outlined the efforts that are being undertaken to deal with the issue. I prioritised being on site to deal with the issue, and I am happy to come to the Chamber to answer questions. I have also engaged with the media. I thank the officials for their work, and I am happy to come here to engage with Members on the issue. I also thank farmers across Northern Ireland, particularly those in the poultry industry who are working in close partnership with us on the issue. I am very grateful to them for that.”
“In addition, a ban on gatherings of poultry has been introduced in conjunction with the housing order. <BR /> <BR />DAERA officials met with key industry stakeholders over the weekend and will continue to liaise closely with them, and colleagues in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, as the situation develops. The need for continuous excellent biosecurity to prevent further incursions will continue to be highlighted by my Department as a crucial way of protecting the national flock.”