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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“The humane culling of the birds is also under way at the premises. I thank all the officials who have been involved in the response to date. <BR /> <BR />I decided to introduce an avian influenza prevention zone across Northern Ireland from Saturday 18 January. The avian influenza prevention zone includes mandatory stringent biosecurity measures. The avian influenza prevention zone will remain in place until the risk reduces. I also introduced a housing order, which came into force today, as part of the current avian influenza prevention zone. That decision aligned with the introduction of a housing order in the Republic of Ireland. Earlier, the president of the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) commented that the housing order that is now in place is the right choice.”
“An investigation was instigated on Friday 14 February at premises near Dungannon, County Tyrone, after a number of mortalities in a commercial poultry flock. Preliminary results have indicated the presence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, H5N1. The unit is a family run farm, so my thoughts are with the family concerned at this time. <BR /> <BR />Temporary disease control zones have been imposed around the premises to limit the spread of disease. The movement of poultry and captive birds, carcasses, eggs, used poultry litter and manure is restricted and licenses are required for them to be moved into or out of the zones. My Department is taking swift action to prevent further incursions by progressing the necessary measures following the establishment of control zones, including licensing requirements and surveillance activities.”
“I want to be clear that this is not scare tactics. On the basis of my Department's analysis and my engagement with farmers, farming unions and land value experts, that outcome is a real possibility. I use the opportunity, once again, to urge the UK Government before their spring statement to reconsider the policy change, given the disproportionate impact on family farms and the potential repercussions for our rural communities and food supply chain. <BR /> <BR />I urge the Assembly to support the motion.”
“At the same time, it would remove the possibility of investors from outside farming buying agricultural land in the knowledge that, on death, it could be sold free of inheritance tax and capital gains tax and therefore discourage that type of activity.”
“<BR /> <BR />I urge the UK Government, as part of a rethink of the policy, to look at how inheritance tax operates in other European countries, particularly Germany, where agricultural land obtains up to 100% relief if it is retained in agricultural use and not sold by the inheritor within a set period of seven years. The introduction of such a provision in the UK, whereby inheritance tax would not be payable on inherited land provided that it remained in agricultural use and was not sold within seven years, would mean that family farms could continue to be passed down through generations without incurring a large inheritance tax liability. That is crucial to the future of our agri-food sector.”
“Owing to our distinctive farm structure of smaller farms that are more likely to be owner-occupied and farms with higher land values than in many other parts of the UK, our farmers are much more vulnerable to the UK Government's inheritance tax changes, which will come into force in April 2026. I plan to write to the EFRA Secretary of State to highlight the findings of that updated analysis and re-emphasise to him my concerns about the inadequacy of Treasury figures in measuring the impact of the policy change on our farming community.”
“As we have repeatedly heard from farmers across the UK since October 2024, the limitations on agricultural property relief and business property relief will impact not only on the wealthy investors in land, at whom the UK Government say the policy change is aimed, but on vast numbers of family farms, because the policy change makes no distinction between the two. <BR /> <BR />Just this month, as Members have mentioned, the Northern Ireland Rural Valuers' Association, in conjunction with the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers, published a report that corroborates the point highlighted by my Department that the policy change has the potential to have a disproportionate impact in Northern Ireland.”
“The analysis assumed that, in 2026, agricultural land in Northern Ireland will have an average valuation of £21,000 per acre. That value is not overinflated. It has been calculated based on information from the 'Irish Farmers Journal' survey and the DAERA farm business survey. <BR /> <BR />Last week, the 'Irish Farmers Journal' confirmed that the average Northern Ireland agricultural land price had hit a record high of £14,736 per acre, which is up 6·8% or £942 per acre year-on-year. Furthermore, the farms that are likely to be impacted on by the policy change account for about 80% of the total land farmed in Northern Ireland. Those staggering statistics highlight why there is such overwhelming fear in our farming sector.”
“I have also, on numerous occasions, expressed those concerns to other devolved Agriculture Ministers and to the Minister of State at DEFRA, Daniel Zeichner, who, in January 2025, responded to a letter from me on the issue. I have also raised issues with Steve Reed, the EFRA Secretary of State. <BR /> <BR />I will address specific points in the motion. As Members will be aware, and as is referenced in the motion, in December 2024, my Department undertook further analysis of the impact of inheritance tax changes on local farms. That built on the original analysis undertaken in November 2024, and along with land values, took into account 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 that exceed £1 million.”
“The far-reaching impact of the policy changes is much more significant than the Treasury estimate, and it is critical that Treasury listen to the concerns raised by devolved Governments and farming unions. <BR /> <BR />Land values bear no resemblance to the income-earning potential of land, and they are never realised where land is passed down through the generations of farming families and continuously farmed. Due to the policy change, however, those values could give rise to large tax bills. As I said, I have met Ministers on the issue. In October, I met the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to emphasise concerns about the impact of the changes on our family farms and farm succession planning.”
“The support that the farming community has received across all sections of our community underscores the concern about the issue that is out there and highlights the fact that there is an understanding across society of the important role that our farmers play in all our lives. <BR /> <BR />I said in the Assembly in November that I was disappointed by the lack of engagement with devolved Governments in advance of the Budget announcements. As I stand here today, I continue to be disappointed and have been left frustrated by the UK Government's lack of willingness to engage on the issue with devolved Governments and farming representatives.”
“Thank you very much, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I thank the Members for tabling the motion. This is primarily a reserved matter on taxation, but I am happy to respond, and I will respond to the motion as tabled. <BR /> <BR />As Members will know, the issue raised in the motion has caused and continues to cause significant concern and uncertainty, not only for our local farming community but for me as Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. Last October, I spoke at the UFU rally at Balmoral against the introduction of the changes to inheritance tax. I have also attended many meetings with Ministers on the issue.”
“I thank the Members who have contributed to the debate. In summary, the Waste (Fees and Charges) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 will bring into operation the waste management charging scheme for 2024-25. That is required for the NIEA to charge for its waste management regulatory activities and includes an annual uplift to fees and charges, allowing the NIEA to operate under full cost recovery, as is required by the principles of 'Managing Public Money Northern Ireland'. I accordingly commend the statutory rule to the House.”
“Therefore, because the fees and charges are being uplifted by using a figure that is not a stand-free inflationary measure, the Waste (Fees and Charges) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 are required to be laid by draft affirmative resolution. <BR /> <BR />As an executive agency of the Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs, NIEA is a key contributor to the Department's vision of sustainability at the heart of a living, working and active landscape that is valued by everyone. Its aim is to protect and enhance Northern Ireland's environment and, in doing so, to deliver health and well-being benefits to support economic growth. The uplift to the agency's fees and charges is essential if that work is to continue. Accordingly, I commend the statutory rule to the House.”
“Had NIEA used the 2024-25 GDP deflator figure of 0·8% that was issued by Treasury, the agency would have lost an estimated £1 million in fees and charges across all charging schemes, and that would have had to be paid from the public purse. <BR /> <BR />Normally, the statutory rule (SR) required to bring the waste management charging scheme into operation each year is laid by negative resolution. However, these regulations are made under schedule 4 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, which stipulates that they will be subject to draft affirmative resolution procedure, unless they only alter a fee or charge to reflect changes in the value of money.”
“They are normally uplifted by the GDP deflator figure, which is issued by His Majesty's Treasury in December in each year. However, the charging policy allows for the Department to apply any other mechanism deemed appropriate to ensure full cost recovery. That prevents the costs of NIEA chargeable activities from having to be paid out of the public purse. After analysis by NIEA finance, it was agreed that fees and charges for 2024-25 should be uplifted by 9·5%. That covers two separate and distinct payroll years, with different rates applied, and it includes associated employers' pay costs. The uplift applies to schemes in the NIEA charging policy 2024-25.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to propose the motion. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) operates an annual charging policy for its regulatory activities. The charging policy covers eight separate charging schemes, of which the waste management charging scheme is one. <BR /> <BR />The waste management charging scheme requires legislation to be laid to make it operational. The NIEA charging policy is governed by the principles of 'Managing Public Money Northern Ireland' and operates under a full cost recovery model. That means that NIEA charges operators of regulated activities the full costs of those regulatory activities and that they are not subsidised by the taxpayer. <BR /> <BR />The fees and charges covered by the charging policy are uplifted annually.”
“It is being considered on a case-by-case basis. Crawfordsburn Country Park in my constituency has been reopened, and I thank the staff for that. In other places, the timescales are not as advanced because of the scale of the work. Some of that work requires machinery being brought on-site. Hopefully, we will get all the forest and country parks open, but some will open sooner than others. <BR /> <BR />Recent events highlight the need for us to pay much closer attention to our environment. The impacts that the storm brought have really exposed that.”
“We want to make sure that it is safe for people to re-enter those facilities.”
“Significant damage has been done to our forest parks across Northern Ireland. That is why I took a trip to Drum Manor near Cookstown to see the widespread damage there. It is apocalyptic and really concerning. Some of the most ancient trees at the arboretum at Castlewellan have been destroyed. <BR /> <BR />I pay tribute to Forest Service staff for the work that they have been doing in response to this, not only in the forest parks but in helping people to get access to their homes and helping the emergency services to get access to facilities such as transmitting towers and all the rest of it. So much work has been undertaken in that regard. I apologise to the public for the delays in getting access to country parks and forest parks at present. That is being done from a genuinely good place and in the interests of health and safety.”
“Projects that support the conservation of Lough Neagh are particularly welcome to apply.”
“Thank you, Stewart. I was really delighted to announce the nature recovery challenge fund. It was launched recently in recognition of the need for more to be done to improve our nature, and it is the first of its kind. That funding provides a great opportunity to support the work of local organisations that are passionate about improving the environment and delivering practical actions that promote nature recovery. The fund will support projects that will significantly contribute towards our commitments to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030. Those projects will increase areas of wildlife habitat, protect and improve the management of habitats and create nature networks that will enhance habitat connectivity and support higher species populations or greater species diversity.”
“We are doing good work on nature recovery. The environmental improvement plan for Northern Ireland has a strategic outcome of achieving thriving, resilient and connected nature and wildlife. That includes key targets to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030. The environment fund is one of the mechanisms used to help reach that target, with projects being funded that support nature in every county.”
“I have outlined my vision for agriculture as part of the sustainable agriculture programme. It is a clear and positive vision going forward. I am already on record as saying that I believe that 'Going for Growth' was a mistake, and it does not feature as part of the sustainable agriculture programme, nor my future vision for agriculture. I was therefore rather shocked to receive a letter from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, addressed to me as Minister, that outlined concerns about the apparent disregard for the previous 'Going for Growth' programmes. It sought clarification of whether there was an opportunity to reinstate the programme. What planet are those councillors living on?”
“Communications will be sent out to farmers next month, and there are more details on the DAERA website. This is absolutely key for Northern Ireland as we chart the way forward for financial and environmental sustainability in our agriculture sector.”
“I was delighted to announce the sustainable agriculture programme last week on the basis of the commitment that I secured as part of the draft Budget for the earmarking of agriculture, agrienvironment, fisheries and rural development funding for the next financial year and future years. As I have outlined to the House previously, getting that was a significant achievement. No other part of the UK has been able to obtain that. In that context, I was able to announce the sustainable agriculture programme, which is based on four pillars. It is about improved environmental sustainability, enhanced productivity, stronger resilience and an effective, functioning supply chain. It is a critical intervention to support not just our farming community but our environment and our economy. I was delighted to announce it last week.”
“I have been working through the capital budget for the next financial year. We are looking to make an allocation of support within that. Obviously, there will be the comprehensive spending review. We will, hopefully, set a two- or three-year budget around it that will give councils a lot more certainty. Obviously, the level of support that I can give is capped by how much funding I have in the Department to allocate, but I seek to work in partnership with councils on the issue and to incentivise uptake of the new technologies. We are looking to support district councils.”
“It is important that we enable councils to plan for the future. I hope to take forward actions on the potential way forward in spring. The consultation has closed. There has been an evaluation of that consultation. I need to engage with councils to show respect towards our partnership arrangement on the issue. We want to move forward with that in the short time ahead.”
“I understand the case that you make. I am particularly aware of the issue of eel stocks in Lough Neagh. I have been engaging with officials and Executive colleagues on that. I will take your comments on those issues and engage with officials. We will also meet to discuss your concerns and what more we can do to protect the stocks in Lough Neagh.”
“I thank the Member for raising the important issue of angling and Inland Fisheries. He has outlined specific concerns about that. I am happy to engage with officials. I am also happy to meet the Member, if he wants to discuss it, to give him a comprehensive response on that really important issue.”
“I am happy to take that issue back, speak to officials and write to you on that. I understand your concern. I will engage with officials and write back to you on that issue, hopefully, in a timely manner.”
“The signage is not a public control measure for people's safety; rather, it is intended to inform users exercising their statutory right of pedestrian access that they may encounter authorised personnel in the forest undertaking deer-control activities and to follow the advice. <BR /> <BR />Where sporting rights, including deer stalking, are exercised in a forest setting, there is no legal requirement for signage to be displayed. However, there is a requirement to meet health and safety obligations. That includes managing any associated risks to the safety of visitors to the forest.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I am satisfied that information signage in respect of deer management practices on my Department's Forest Service estate is effective and complies with public health and safety risk management. In response to the question, if Members have particular concerns, I am happy for those to be raised with me personally to see what more we can do in that area. <BR /> <BR />Forest Service displays information signage during its deer-culling season from September to April at entrances to the Department's forests with high visitor numbers and large deer populations.”
“You make a good point. It is important that we do that in a coordinated fashion. As ever in life, we can learn lessons about what we can do better. If we did not do that, we would not be doing our job properly. You raise important issues about rural communities, and I want to ensure that they are supported in the time ahead.”
“Yes, we can do better, but what would it have been like after the storm without a Government or an Assembly in place? I know that the Executive are not perfect — you are sometimes the first to highlight that, which is fair enough; that is your job as the Opposition — but at least we have a Government in place who can respond to the issues. It is important to remember that.”
“<BR /> <BR />There are lessons to be learnt from the storm. We have a register of vulnerable people, and Northern Ireland Electricity is tasked with trying to reconnect those people as soon as possible. The issue is how we ensure that we can reach out to the people who are not on the register, such as older people living on their own, and are left without heat or power if such a storm occurs again, which may, unfortunately, happen. Hopefully, the Executive and officials can discuss that to see what more we can do. <BR /> <BR />In closing, I pay tribute to the community effort. A lot of people rallied around and supported so many people. I saw so many examples of that. We should be proud of Northern Ireland, our communities and how we support one another.”
“Thank you, Patsy, for your question. You highlight an important issue: the people most affected by the storm were vulnerable people in rural communities. Many have been without electricity, water and broadband, which is key to day-to-day life, particularly for those working from home. They have been without those services for a long time. What did I, as Minister, do? I engaged with my Executive colleagues, and we had a number of Executive meetings on the matter. I have been in regular contact with Kate Clifford, director of the Rural Community Network. I have been in personal contact with Kate. I have also been in regular contact with the president of the Ulster Farmers' Union to understand the issues in that area and pass those on to my Executive colleagues. Important issues were raised.”
“That is slightly unrelated to the question, but it is an important issue. I will ask my private office to contact your constituency office today to get a bit more understanding of the issues and see how we can resolve them.”
“My concern is that we abide by the rules on animal movements, and the message has to come very clearly from us all that it is important that we take every step that is necessary to keep foot-and-mouth disease out of Northern Ireland.”
“This is a matter of concern for me, because it was devastating when it arrived. That is why I have spoken to my colleague across the border, Martin Heydon, and previously to Charlie McConalogue. I have also spoken to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Baroness Hayman from DEFRA. There has been significant engagement on the matter, because we need to work together to keep foot-and-mouth disease out of Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />I have a long answer here on the contingency methods, and I will write to the Member about them. To reassure all Members, let me say that we consider this matter to be very serious.”
“Communications reminding livestock keepers of the necessity of adhering to the highest levels of biosecurity are being disseminated regularly by my Department. In addition, veterinary practitioners and livestock keepers have been urged to remain alert to any unusual symptoms and to report them immediately to a veterinarian or directly to DAERA. I urge all Members to continue to play their part in disseminating those key messages.”
“To protect Northern Ireland, there are also strict import controls in place restricting the movement of animals and animal products from foot-and-mouth disease-affected areas. That means that all susceptible species and their products from the disease control zones in Germany are restricted from moving to Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />The foot-and-mouth disease web page on the DAERA website has also been updated in light of the situation in Germany. The web page contains important information on foot-and-mouth disease, including details on clinical signs and the steps that livestock keepers should take to protect their animals in order to prevent the introduction and spread of this devastating disease. My officials have met industry stakeholders to update them on the situation in Germany and to stress the need for vigilance.”
“The emergence of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany is of significant concern not only for our livestock owners but for agriculture sectors across the UK, Ireland and the European Union. I assure Members that my Department has robust contingency plans in place to manage the risk of the disease in order to protect our livestock, farmers and the wider industry. Those were set out in my written ministerial statement to the Assembly on 17 January. <BR /> <BR />On notification of the outbreak in Germany, in a herd of water buffalo in Brandenburg, north of Berlin, my officials immediately carried out a tracing exercise. That was to identify whether any susceptible species, germ plasm or products of animal origin had been imported to Northern Ireland from Germany within an established risk window.”
“That is a very broad question. I am very conscious that legislation is in place, including the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. If the Member has any concerns, I ask him to raise them with the council, as councils are primarily the enforcement authority for that matter.”
“I do plenty of thinking, Matthew. I took the issue forward and met my then counterpart, Minister Charlie McConalogue. Martin Heydon has now taken over, and I had a really good conversation with him last week. We discussed whether the South plans to bring forward a register of that nature, and I was informed that it does not. With regard to the animal welfare pathway, we are exploring further methods that we could offer to different organisations to deal with some of their concerns about animal welfare, and Access NI may be involved. We will announce the way forward on that as part of the animal welfare pathway.”
“My engagement with stakeholders on that issue is not complete, and I have not taken any final decisions. <BR /> <BR />There is a lot to do around animal welfare. We lost two years of the mandate, because this place did not sit for two years. That has constrained our ability to introduce legislation. I will continue to engage with stakeholders, and I will announce an animal welfare pathway in the time ahead. I will ensure that all Members get a copy of that and that I engage with Committee on it.”
“<BR /> <BR />I remain keen to overhaul the regulations for the licensing of animal welfare establishments, but in order to deliver change in areas such as boarding and pet selling, I would need to repeal existing primary legislation. Doing so in this mandate would be a challenge. That having been said, however, I have already set out a range of priorities for the remainder of the Assembly mandate, which includes a commitment to review dog breeding and the operation of canine fertility clinics as well as potential regulation of the rescue and rehoming sector. It also remains the case that all protected animals in any setting continue to be protected by the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, which provides enforcement agencies with substantial powers to act in situations where an animal is subject to unnecessary suffering.”
“When it comes to the current licensing regime for establishments, legislation allows my Department to license four distinct animal businesses. I am, however, acutely aware of the fact that those laws have their origins in 1972. There are potentially much better ways of doing things, and other animal-related businesses may warrant licensing. For example, in other parts of the UK, legislation has evolved to deal with home boarding and pet day care, while licences are required for activities such as mobile animal exhibits. I am also aware that the Scottish Government have consulted on the potential to extend licensing to dog grooming and dog walking.”
“I would be delighted to do so. It is really important that I record my appreciation of and support for the many animal welfare organisations that operate in Northern Ireland, including Assisi and many more, such as Cats Protection, Dogs Trust and the Ulster Society for the Prevention Cruelty to Animals (USPCA). Those organisations play a valuable role, and it is important that we support them. If the Member sends correspondence to my private office, I will be delighted to arrange a visit to Assisi in Conlig.”
“Consequently, their operation is a matter for councils, and I do not consider a stand-alone licensing regime to be necessary.”