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 Department for Infrastructure, as the policy lead Department for rural transport, provides grant aid from its rural transport fund budget to 11 rural community transport providers across Northern Ireland to deliver its dial-a-lift scheme. Through the tackling rural poverty and social isolation (TRPSI) framework — I am sorry to mention another acronym, but my Department is made up of them — DAERA has worked with the Department for Infrastructure to develop the assisted rural travel scheme (ARTS), which permits rural dwellers entitled to a SmartPass to use it on rural community transport vehicles. That intervention brought equivalency to services that urban dwellers were able to avail themselves of and provided free or half-fare travel on trips provided through the Department for Infrastructure's dial-a-lift scheme.”
“The Member highlights one of the reasons for the Treasury's decision to make the change. I believe that it will be in the Treasury's gift to tackle that issue without it having the disproportionate impact that it is having in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is a patchwork quilt of family farms. They are the bedrock of our rural community. The inheritance tax change is causing real concern to those family farms. I will engage with the Ulster Farmers' Union tomorrow about constructive suggestions that we can make to the UK Government on how to alleviate those concerns and avoid the damage that the change could cause in Northern Ireland.”
“I have written to the Finance Minister. I have also discussed the issue with Executive colleagues. I had planned to meet the Finance Minister later this afternoon, but, due to Assembly business, the timing of the meeting has moved. It will not be possible to have that meeting today, but I will seek to reschedule it and make clear my continued call for the funds to be earmarked in Northern Ireland so that we can give certainty not just to the farming community but to our fishing communities across Northern Ireland and provide support for agrienvironment and rural development. I am keen to ensure that we get clarity on that as soon as possible. One of the key issues is that we in the Executive agree a draft Budget for the next financial year as soon as possible.”
“Inheritance tax is a reserved matter, because the UK Government take forward taxation policy. I received a letter back from Treasury today that says that they are clearly of the opinion that they are not for turning on the matter, but I will continue to engage with them and urge them to rethink it. I am mindful of the fact that, if the tax change proceeds, we will need to have a much bigger focus on succession planning for farming in Northern Ireland. The Department is bringing forward the Farming for the Generations scheme, which is a pilot initiative. More details about it are available on our website. Over the time ahead, we will need to scale that scheme up so that we can assist farmers with succession planning. It is absolutely key that we do so.”
“The uncertainty about earmarked funding from the next financial year onwards is largely due to the departure from the European Union. People would do well to remember that.”
“I have clearly outlined my position on the issue and on the fact that I am fighting the corner of agriculture in Northern Ireland on the issue of the Budget and the budgetary settlement arising from that. It is key that we come together on inheritance tax and on funding for agriculture, the agrienvironment, fisheries and rural development. We need to be unified in our approach in order to get the funds ring-fenced in Northern Ireland. We must be clear in our message to the UK Government that they should overturn their decision on inheritance tax. That is absolutely key. <BR /> <BR />When we were in the European Union, our funding under the common agricultural policy and the common fisheries policy was guaranteed to us in seven-year tranches. Then we left the EU. That funding is earmarked until the end of March next year.”
“Although existing funding for agriculture, the agrienvironment, fisheries and rural development will continue to be earmarked by Treasury until 31 March next year, it is important to provide certainty on the funding after that. While it is positive that funding levels have been maintained at £332·5 million, it is disappointing that they have not been increased in line with inflation. I have therefore formally asked the Finance Minister that the resource DEL that has been baselined in the block grant be treated as Executive-earmarked funding for agriculture, the agrienvironment, fisheries and rural development purposes and uplifted it in line with inflation, as part of the Executive’s Budget exercise for the next financial year.”
“I will meet the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) tomorrow to consider next steps. <BR /> <BR />Analysis carried out by my Department and placed in the Assembly Library shows that around one third of farms in Northern Ireland have a land value of more than £1 million. However, those farms account for 60% of owned land and the majority of agricultural production. A large proportion of farms of significant size will be affected, including 75% of those in the dairy sector. Looking solely at the number of farms does not measure the impact on the sector. <BR /> <BR />Another issue arising from the Budget is the change to ring-fenced funding.”
“With your permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to answer questions 6, 10 and 12 together. <BR /> <BR />I recognise that the changes announced in the Budget regarding agricultural property relief and business property relief in relation to inheritance tax have generated real concern and anger in the local farming community and further afield. I expressed those concerns when I met the Secretary of State on 4 November and urged him to reconsider the policies. I have also raised the issue with the DEFRA Minister of State, Daniel Zeichner, and will continue to do so in meetings with other UK Government Ministers. I have encouraged the UK Government to engage further with the farming community so that they have a better understanding of the concerns being raised and to look again at the issue.”
“I thank the Member for her question. I know that the issue was raised in today's debate about support for the sheep sector, and I will respond to the concerns as part of that. I confirm that I have not made a final decision. Any decision that I take on the matter will be communicated, in the first instance, to the Committee. It is important that I do that. I would like to give clarity as soon as I can. However, to do that, I need to work with my officials, who are also dealing with other issues, such as TB. I will look to provide clarification as speedily as possible. I cannot give you a defined timescale, but I get the concerns. Clarity on the situation going forward needs to be communicated.”
“The question that the Member tabled to highlight the issue prompted me to meet the Chief Veterinary Officer today to discuss how much more we can do, including perhaps running the pilot again to raise industry awareness.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary question. It is a useful question, because the Northern Ireland sheep scab pilot project, Stamp out Scab, ran from August 2022 until October 2023. The project was co-funded by DAERA and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). Levels of disease reporting from before, during and after the project appear to show that the project was successful in highlighting awareness of the disease. Reported disease levels have fallen since the project concluded but remain higher than pre-project levels. <BR /> <BR />I value Question Time, because it is about accountability but also about how we work together to address issues.”
“Although we will assist where we can, that assistance must be set in the context of the current climate of departmental budgetary and resource pressures.”
“DAERA continues to use its social media channels to raise awareness of sheep scab and to remind flock owners to remain vigilant for signs of it in their flock. <BR /> <BR />The DAERA website provides details on the disease, including information on clinical signs and on how the disease spreads, as well as key advice to the industry on preventing its spread. The Department also provides a range of practical support and advice to the industry and to individually affected flock keepers in order to minimise spread. DAERA staff continue to report cases of sheep scab that they encounter as part of their official duties. The staff are also involved in market and abattoir inspections and have been reminded to remain vigilant for the signs of sheep scab. <BR /> <BR />My Department will continue to support industry efforts to tackle the disease.”
“Sheep scab is one of the most severe skin conditions for sheep. It is highly contagious, responsible for large economic losses and a significant welfare concern. Sheep scab remains a notifiable disease in Northern Ireland. The Sheep Scab Order (Northern Ireland) 1970 places a legal obligation on any person who has reason to believe that sheep in their possession or care have sheep scab to notify their local divisional veterinary office. <BR /> <BR />My Department welcomes and continues to support the efforts of industry stakeholders such as the Northern Ireland Sheep Scab Control and Eradication Group to tackle sheep scab and commends the group on the success of its pilot project, Stamp out Scab.”
“Thank you, Justin, for your question. The Chief Veterinary Officer's report will be published on Thursday. I urge you and others to read it and consider what it says. <BR /> <BR />When I assumed office in February, the Secretary of State had already instructed that there would be a consultation on reducing the level of compensation from 100% to 90%, and then to 75%. I have worked with the Finance Minister to ensure that the funding is in place so that we do not need to do that. We do, however, need to get assurances for the next financial year in order to continue with that position, because it is key that my Department be properly funded to fulfil all its statutory functions, including issuing bTB compensation.”
“I can confirm, and Members will be aware, that there will be a consultation on any future wildlife interventions.”
“We therefore have to take learnings from not just across the UK and Ireland but beyond to see how we can collectively drive down levels of bTB. I urge everyone to work with us so that we can take learnings from the Chief Veterinary Officer's report and chart a better path to reducing bTB incidence levels.”
“Levels of bTB across the UK and Ireland vary. We know, for example, that Scotland's level is so low that it is considered to be free of bTB, whereas the levels of bTB in Northern Ireland are unsustainable. I know that deeply, not just because of the financial implications for my Department but because the matter is regularly raised with me wherever I go.”
“I thank the Member for her question, which is a really important one. After the previous North/South Ministerial Council meeting, I had a lengthy meeting with the South's Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, on that specific issue, what the South is doing, what we are doing and how we can work together. In animal health terms, we are an all-Ireland unit, and we need to share our experience and work together a bit more closely. That is helping to inform some of my decision-making, but I am also looking at what is happening in England, Scotland and Wales and beyond. Be assured that we are working together on the issues, and I am keen to accelerate that.”
“I am aware of the outcome of the judicial review, because I have read the judgement twice. We are seeking a holistic way forward so that we can manage the issues associated with bTB. That goes beyond the issue of wildlife. We need to work together collaboratively to deal with all the causation factors, because that is the only way for us to drive down levels of bTB. To be honest, the mental health impact on farmers and the anguish that bTB is causing are of real concern to me. I will go to the Committee on Thursday with Brian, the Chief Veterinary Officer, to outline his report. I hope that everyone will give Brian's report a fair hearing because we need to work together on the issue.”
“It is a key priority for me to work closely with industry and key stakeholders on ways to reduce disease levels and programme costs, setting Northern Ireland on a path to reduce and, ultimately, eradicate this costly disease.”
“Coupled with an increase in the market value of cattle, that saw compensation payments rise to just under £36 million in the previous financial year. That was a significant increase on the cost in the preceding five years, during which the average compensation bill was just over £21 million. Removal of cattle from farms also results in consequential losses for industry, particularly in the dairy sector. That is not sustainable. <BR /> <BR />My Chief Veterinary Officer, Brian Dooher, is undertaking a thorough review of matters that relate to our bovine TB eradication programme and policy, including the actions that are contained in the bovine TB eradication strategy. I will brief the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee on the review this Thursday.”
“Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is one of the most challenging issues that cattle farmers and my Department face. The cost of delivering the Northern Ireland bovine TB eradication programme was almost £56 million last year, and current estimates indicate that there will be a rise in programme costs to approximately £60 million for this financial year. <BR /> <BR />Since becoming Minister, I have heard directly from farmers on the impact of bovine TB, from a financial perspective and, importantly, on their mental and physical health. I am particularly conscious of the current increase in animal incidence, which now stands at over 1%, as that points towards larger breakdowns and more cattle being slaughtered for disease control. Over 20,000 cattle have been removed from farms in Northern Ireland in the past 12 months.”
“The head of the Civil Service has no remit on that matter.”
“As the Member will be aware from my answer to his previous question, I have no role to play in that matter.”
“I read 'The Impartial Reporter' investigation and am aware of the reports and concerns. The issue is on my mind and is of great concern to me. When we get together with those stakeholders soon, that issue will be on the agenda. I get the public concern, because I share it. I want to look at what more we can do in that area.”
“There are two aspects to your question. If you are aware of any concerns about council engagement, you can bring them to me and I will engage constructively with the councils on them. Stakeholder engagement on the reform of animal welfare legislation will include the councils, because they are key partners in it. I will wish to discuss dog-breeding establishments at our forthcoming meeting.”
“I am passionate about improving animal welfare standards in Northern Ireland. We have lost pace on that due to the collapse of the Assembly. I am determined to do what work I can, with the resources in my Department, to catch up on it. I will be engaging with stakeholders, because I want to do it in a process of co-design and working together. As part of that engagement, we will discuss measures that we can take forward together to improve animal welfare. I am already clearly of the mind that we should bring forward a ban on the use of shock collars, introduce compulsory microchipping of cats and strengthen legal requirements. It is important that we work together. There are many more things that we can do to protect animals against cruelty in Northern Ireland.”
“It is my desire that any legislation introduced in this space will generate greater transparency and accountability in the marketplace by enabling purchasers to identify where a pet has come from. I am minded to bring forward further measures to improve animal welfare in Northern Ireland. Any proposals that I bring forward will, of course, be subject to public consultation.”
“I remain committed to introducing legislation to regulate third-party sales of pups and kittens in Northern Ireland. I expect to be in a position to announce policy proposals by the end of this year along with a number of other key proposals, which I am confident will deliver improvements to the lives of companion animals. It is my desire that any legislation will be a significant step change for Northern Ireland and deliver for citizens and stakeholders. <BR /> <BR />I have invited the Northern Ireland Companion Animal Welfare Group to meet me on 4 December so that we can discuss priority reforms for animal welfare. At that meeting, I will outline my Department’s vision for a version of Lucy’s law that will meet our local contexts and needs. One such option is measures that go beyond a prohibition on third-party sellers.”
“Peatlands are absolutely key in this, and we are already doing work on that. We have funding from the Shared Island Fund, which is proving really useful to the actions that we can take towards peatland restoration. I have seen some of that work across Northern Ireland in action in recent months, but we want to take that further and introduce our peatland strategy, because we can use our peatlands as a way forward in tackling the challenges that we have not only but specifically in relation to greenhouse emissions.”
“As I outlined in my response to Mark, we are taking forward a number of strategies in this area. In the shortened mandate that we have and within my Department's resource pressures, the ability to take forward legislation in a specific area is challenging for me. I am aware, however, that Mark H Durkan, who asked the question for oral answer, is introducing a Member's Bill. I have already met the Member about that, and, hopefully, we can work cooperatively on this. I think that all of us in the House have a commitment to improving our environment, and if we can work together on these things, we can achieve so much more.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I am very well aware of what the OEP report said about the drivers of biodiversity loss. It was very stark reading, and I encourage everyone in the House and beyond to read the report. The NAP, as the Member outlined, is a key intervention in dealing with that nutrient overload in our rivers, lakes and loughs, and it is my intention and hope that we will move to consultation on that in January.”
“Our review of the nutrients action programme (NAP) and forthcoming ammonia strategy will aim to address our excess nutrient pollution problem, a key issue in biodiversity loss. Public consultations on a number of marine conservation-based strategies and action plans for habitats and species are also under way. <BR /> <BR />I am fully committed to restoring our natural habitats, species and ecosystems and taking the necessary steps to deliver a nature-positive and climate-resilient future for all.”
“The forthcoming nature recovery strategy, peatland strategy, climate action plan and climate change adaptation plan will also include ambitious measures to tackle biodiversity loss and climate change together, supporting green growth and nature recovery. <BR /> <BR />My Department has also been driving forward programmes to enhance our terrestrial, freshwater and marine biodiversity, including through the environmental farming scheme, where over 58,000 hectares of protected and priority habitats and their associated species are being actively managed to support their maintenance and recovery over time. There are 36 projects, totalling more than £7·5 million, supported by the environment fund, supporting habitat and species recovery.”
“It is widely recognised that Northern Ireland’s natural environment and its habitats and species are under considerable pressure, having suffered continuous biodiversity loss in recent decades. Indeed, the recent evidence report from the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) highlights the precarious state of biodiversity here and the key pressures that need to be tackled to, first, halt biodiversity loss and, then, restore the diversity of Northern Ireland’s habitats and species. <BR /> <BR />Recognising the importance of a more nature-positive future for all and nature’s role in tackling climate change, DAERA’s strategic objectives reflect the need for specific measures to restore our natural ecosystems, such as those set out in Northern Ireland’s first environmental improvement plan.”
“I beg to introduce the Agriculture Bill [NIA 08/22-27], which is a Bill to make provision for the modification of assimilated direct legislation in relation to aid in the fruit and vegetables sector and information and promotion schemes for agricultural products; and for connected purposes.”
“I shall continue my engagement with the Minister of Finance and other Executive colleagues as part of the ongoing Budget 2025-26 exercise to seek that that funding is earmarked by the Executive following the end of the earmarking for three years by Treasury and the previous receipt of that funding from the EU as part of our participation in the common agricultural policy and the fishing policy. <BR /> <BR />Hopefully, I have addressed the issues in the motion. I have concerns about the funding. You can see that I have been working with the Finance Minister to address those. Some of the issues arise from Brexit. We got that funding from Brussels in seven-year tranches, and now that is going. I am working through the solutions and the issues, and I will not be found wanting on that, but we need to work together.”
“I have therefore formally asked the Finance Minister to ensure that the resource DEL that has been baselined in the block grant is treated as Executive earmarked — other people would use the term "ring-fenced" — funding for agriculture, agrienvironment, fisheries and rural development purposes and uplifted in line with inflation as part of the Executive's 2025-26 Budget exercise. I consider that important to support vital work to improve our environment and water and air quality and to safeguard food security. <BR /> <BR />The Budget announcement has created considerable uncertainty about funding for agriculture, agrienvironment, fisheries and rural development. However, there is an opportunity to address that in the Budget for the next financial year and to deliver for farmers, the fishing sector and our environment.”
“Whilst it is positive that funding levels have been maintained at £332·5 million, it is disappointing that funding has not been increased in line with inflation. <BR /> <BR />I recognise the significant contribution that agri-food and fishing businesses make to our economy and rural communities and the need to continue to provide support to ensure that our farm businesses can operate sustainably while playing their full part in the action needed to protect and enhance our environment, improve animal health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
“On earmarked funding — the terms "earmarked" and "ring-fenced" are interchanged — and that change to budgets, that represents a break from the past. The money was previously received under the common agricultural policy and the common fisheries policy. Then, following our departure from the EU post Brexit, it was earmarked, until the end of March next year, by the previous UK Government. Although the existing funding for agriculture, agrienvironment, fisheries and rural development will continue to be earmarked by Treasury until 31 March next year, it is important, in light of the change announced by the Chancellor on 30 October, to provide certainty on the funding after that. The announcement on inheritance tax has slightly overshadowed that, and it is important that we consider it.”
“We will not be divided. Other people may want to do that, but we should not do that in here. We need to stand united. In our approach to the UK Government, we need to be clear that we are very much united in supporting our farming community and in our opposition to the proposed inheritance tax changes, because that is the only way that we will be able to chart a better way forward. It is absolutely key that we do that.”
“Hopefully, that addresses the issue in relation to the inheritance tax matter that was raised in the debate. <BR /> <BR />I am very clear that I stand four-square in support of farmers in their opposition to the proposed changes to inheritance tax. There is a saying: united we stand, divided we fall.”
“<BR /> <BR />Food prices are determined by the market and are outside my control. I wish to see price stability, with food being affordable and prices at a level that delivers an adequate return for farmers. <BR /> <BR />On a positive note, my Department's new farm support and development programme contains a farming for the generations scheme, which is being rolled out as a pilot. The pilot scheme aims to raise awareness of the need for succession planning on farms and to support farm families through a three-phase approach: planning for succession, developing the successor and supporting the lead generation in the farm family. It will also link farmers without a family successor to new entrants to provide access to land and other resources. Evaluation of the pilot scheme will be input to a future farming for the generations scheme.”
“<BR /> <BR />The ability to pass farms down through generations of farming families is crucial to securing the future of our agri-food sector. I am pleased to say that the letter signed by the First Minister, deputy First Minister, Finance Minister and me was sent to the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, following work between Caoimhe Archibald and me, urging the UK Government to rethink their approach. <BR /> <BR />On the specific issues in the motion, I need to be clear that it will not be possible for my Department to mitigate the impact of the inheritance tax changes by refunding tax bills. However, I will do all that I can to make the case to the UK Government that they rethink the issue, and I encourage farmers to seek advice from a professional tax adviser on how to minimise potential tax liability via tax planning.”
“<BR /> <BR />I met the Northern Ireland Secretary of State in the days after the Budget to outline the concerns that have been expressed in the Chamber. I also expressed those concerns yesterday to the Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Daniel Zeichner, in a meeting with other devolved agriculture Ministers, and I will continue to do so in meetings with other UK Ministers. I am also seeking to arrange a meeting again with the Ulster Farmers' Union to discuss this specific issue next week. I have encouraged the UK Government to engage further with the farming community so that they can have a better understanding of the concerns being raised, and I urge them to look again at the issue, given the disproportionate impact on family farms in Northern Ireland.”
“Those farms account for 60% of owned land and the majority of farm production in Northern Ireland. Furthermore, a large proportion of farms of significant size will be affected, including 75% of those in the dairy sector. Therefore, looking solely at the number of farms does not measure the impact on the sector. The limitations on APR and BPR tax relief will have far-reaching and potentially disproportionate impacts locally. <BR /> <BR />I do not agree with the UK Government's determination that the tax change targets wealthy landowners rather than family farms. It makes no distinction between the two. Land valued at £3 million and owned by a farmer is treated the same as it would be if owned by a non-farmer.”
“<BR /> <BR />As was said, £1 million may sound like a significant value, but it does not amount to a large area of land, especially in Northern Ireland, where prices are the highest in the UK and Ireland and are likely to average around £15,000 per acre by the time that the change would come into effect in 2026. Land values bear no resemblance to the income-earning potential of land, and they never materialise where land is passed down through generations of farming families and continuously farmed. Due to the policy change, that value could give rise to large tax bills. <BR /> <BR />Analysis undertaken by my Department suggests that the proposed tax relief change will affect around one third of Northern Ireland farms because the value of land owned by the farm exceeds £1 million in agricultural value.”
“<BR /> <BR />Whilst I appreciate that decisions on taxation are a matter for the UK Government and are not devolved to the Assembly and our Executive, I was disappointed by the lack of engagement with devolved Governments in advance of the Budget announcements, given the far-reaching impact of the changes on other policy areas that are devolved. The changes announced to the limitation of agricultural property relief and business property relief at a rate of 100% to a combined value of £1 million came as a shock, and they have, rightly, caused real concern and anger in the local farming community.”