Andrew Muir
North Down · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. As Minister, I am grateful to the Chair of the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee and to Members from all sides of the Chamber for their consideration of the Bill and their contributions to the debate, which have been valuable and useful.”
“I will write to you with regard to your query. <BR /> <BR />The other issue, as I said, is reporting pollution incidents so that they can be effectively investigated. There is a duty on everyone to do that promptly.”
“Aquaculture provides real economic opportunities, and the Bill will help ensure that those opportunities are realised responsibly without compromising the environment. Importantly, the Bill includes transitional provisions so that existing licences can continue seamlessly as aquaculture licences, with their conditions unchanged.”
“That is not about being punitive for its own sake; it is about ensuring that the legal framework reflects the true value of our natural resources and the importance of protecting them for future generations.”
“<BR /> <BR />On strengthening the regulation of inland waters, the Bill modernises long-standing powers under the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966, ensuring that they are fit for today's environmental and industry challenges. That matters because fisheries management today goes far beyond simply catching fish.”
“<BR /> <BR />A full regulatory impact assessment of the financial impact has been completed. It concluded that the Bill does not introduce significant new financial burdens and that any costs are outweighed by the long-term benefits.”
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“I thank the Member for her question. I am aware of the public discourse on the ownership of the bed and soil and of what the Earl of Shaftesbury has said in recent days. I have reached out to him to seek a meeting to discuss the issues further. I am conscious of the issue and its importance to many people. My preference is for community ownership. I am aware that the Lough Neagh Partnership (LNP) is undertaking an initiative on the future management and ownership of the lough, and I intend to engage with that initiative. <BR /> <BR />The primary focus of the Lough Neagh report and action plan is on water quality issues in the lough. The ownership of the bed and soil is largely not within the report's scope.”
“The Executive need to step up and back me on the actions that I need to take.”
“If the Executive meeting does not occur this week and urgent procedure is not granted, I will have to consider my options, because the blue-green algae issue at Lough Neagh is of extreme concern to me. It is a real problem, and we need to act on it. I will have to explore every way in which my Department can take the necessary actions. <BR /> <BR />It is important that I take the opportunity to outline the approach that should be taken. I have said in the Chamber that it is based on four pillars: education; investment and incentivisation; regulation; and enforcement. That is a balanced approach and one that we should take. We can all be part of the solution, but we need to take action. The Executive will hopefully meet this week. If they do not, the Lough Neagh report and action plan will hopefully be given urgent approval.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Water quality in Lough Neagh was discussed in some depth at the meeting, because we face challenges on a North/South basis. We looked at the interventions that have been made in the South and at research issues. As part of that, we updated attendees at the NSMC on the efforts that have been progressing to finalise and publish the Lough Neagh report and action plan. <BR /> <BR />I am disappointed that it looks unlikely that there will be an Executive meeting on Thursday to agree that report and action plan. Time is not on our side, and, as a result, I will write to the First Minister and the deputy First Minister to request the use of urgent procedure to approve the report and action plan.”
“I will have to work on those issues with my Communities and Economy colleagues. We have had fruitful discussions to date, and I want to make progress on those matters. We need to take action on air quality: it has a real impact on human health in Northern Ireland.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Air quality is important to me, and I am engaging with officials on our air quality strategy for Northern Ireland. I want to get that finalised so that we are able to make progress on it. It is one of the issues that officials have been working on, alongside water quality. Resources are a challenge for my Department, but we are working through that, and I was reading through the responses to the consultation just last night. <BR /> <BR />The NSMC meeting had a significant discussion around air quality, given that the challenges exist North and South. Air quality does not stop at the border. We need to deal with it, particularly when it comes to the actions that the South has taken on the burning of fuel. We were able to discuss those issues.”
“Ammonia emissions from agriculture and their impact on protected sites are an issue common to both jurisdictions. The PEACE PLUS programme may present an opportunity to share knowledge and experience in that area. An additional aspect of ammonia emissions is their potential impact on human health through the formation of fine particles. It is hoped that research commissioned under PEACE PLUS will help to provide more certainty in that area.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I am aware of the issues around that. There was not a substantial discussion of those matters, but they are a matter of concern for me, and I want to pick them up with my colleagues in the time ahead. There was quite a lot to deal with in the meeting because we had not had any NSMC meetings for a number of years. The illegal trade in the dumping of waste and the impact that it can have is a key issue North and South. I want to work on those matters with my colleagues, and I am happy to engage with the Member on them in his capacity as Committee Chairperson.”
“I thank the Member for his question. There is potential. Work is already ongoing in the co-centres, for example, where there is that collaboration. It is vital that we collaborate on research and science, North/South and east-west, not only to bring forward potential solutions but to understand the scale of the problem so that we can work together to address it. This is key, and I want to work on it with my colleagues in the South at NSMC meetings and outside those. When it comes to water quality, we are aware that Lough Neagh's catchment area extends beyond Northern Ireland. There is a need for cooperation on that matter, and that is high on my agenda.”
“The NSMC welcomed the opportunity for cross-jurisdictional collaboration in the pilot catchment work plan to be undertaken in the Newry, Fane, Glyde and Dee catchment. <BR /> <BR />The Council agreed to hold the next meeting in this sector in autumn 2024. I welcome the re-establishment of formal NSMC meetings and look forward to working with my counterparts in Ireland in all areas of cooperation in the environment sector. I commend the statement to the Assembly and welcome any questions.”
“The NSMC noted that departmental officials and wider stakeholders across both jurisdictions are actively sharing knowledge and expertise on water quality issues including through the North/South water framework directive coordination group. <BR /> <BR />Ministers welcomed the overall continued high quality of the bathing waters in both jurisdictions and noted the continued engagement between the Department for Infrastructure, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Irish Water and Northern Ireland Water on exploring opportunities for cooperation, including applications to access funding under the EU’s PEACE PLUS programme.”
“<BR /> <BR />The NSMC noted that improving air quality is a key priority for both jurisdictions and acknowledged the progress achieved and the challenges faced by both Administrations in improving air quality and, in particular, strategies, initiatives and collaboration to tackle air pollution on a cross-border basis. Ministers also agreed to continue collaboration on the key issues affecting air quality such as solid fuels, communication and policy alignment. <BR /> <BR />On water quality and waste water management, the Council noted the significant issue of blue-green algae and its impacts on water quality and the safety of water use and the new approaches needed to address its causes and manage monitoring. The current position in relation to the particular challenges surrounding Lough Neagh was highlighted.”
“Ministers noted the shared challenges faced in both jurisdictions and recognised that there are opportunities to work together on research to manage and protect the environment through informed, evidence-based policy development. Ministers welcomed the strong links between research bodies in both jurisdictions in the field of environmental research and agreed that both Administrations will continue to work together to maximise opportunities in environmental research, including those offered by PEACE PLUS, Horizon Europe, Ireland’s North/South research programme and the jointly funded research co-centres.”
“<BR /> <BR />Ministers were invited to welcome the presentation on climate change and biodiversity, entitled 'A Shared Island approach to Climate and Biodiversity Research', which highlights the potential benefits of a collaborative approach to environmental challenges, particularly in respect of climate change and biodiversity, through the themes of shared ambition, shared experience and shared opportunities and challenges. <BR /> <BR />On research funding opportunities, the NSMC welcomed the ongoing collaboration and continued delivery of environmental priorities such as those through the PEACE PLUS programme 2021-27 and the Shared Island initiative.”
“The statement has been agreed with junior Minister Reilly and junior Minister Cameron, and I make it on behalf of us all. It was a very positive meeting, and a lot of progress was made. I will take each paper in the order in which it was discussed. <BR /> <BR />The NSMC noted that officials from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage have reviewed the work programme of the NSMC environment sector. Ministers noted that both jurisdictions place a strong focus on efforts to tackle the challenges surrounding climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution and agreed a revised work programme for the environment sector.”
“With your permission, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, I wish to make a statement in compliance with section 52 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 regarding the twenty-fourth North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) environment meeting, which was held in the NSMC joint secretariat offices, Armagh, on Monday 10 June 2024. Junior Minister Aisling Reilly MLA, junior Minister Pam Cameron MLA and I represented the Northern Ireland Executive at the meeting. I thank them for coming along with me. The Irish Government were represented by Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, and Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Minister Ryan TD chaired the meeting.”
“<BR /> <BR />I commend the statutory rule to the Assembly and ask that it be approved.”
“As I mentioned in my opening remarks, the regulations that the statutory rule provides for will be made as soon as possible after it is, hopefully, approved by the Assembly. The regulations will come into operation to enable the application system to go live in July 2024 to provide financial assistance to projects that enhance the marine environment and to support and progress economic resilience and, where possible, sustainable growth in the catching, processing and aquaculture sectors. <BR /> <BR />On Declan McAleer's points on future funding, I am conscious of that issue. The Finance Minister and I are working together on that, and we will engage with whatever shade of Government come in on 5 July to get certainty about that funding from April of next year, because we recognise its importance.”
“In conclusion, I thank the Committee for its prompt consideration of the SL1 at its meeting on 16 May 2024 and the draft statutory rule on 13 June. I acknowledge that the Examiner of Statutory Rules included the statutory rule in her report published on 11 June. Finally, I thank the Business Office for scheduling the motion for debate ahead of the summer recess, thereby enabling the 2024-25 financial support scheme, subject to the approval of the statutory rule by the Assembly today, to open as planned in July. I commend the motion to the Assembly and ask for the statutory rule to be approved.”
“The statutory rule is vital to deliver the vision that my Department shares with other fisheries policy authorities, as set out in the joint marine policy statement for:”
“The £3·4 million consists of £1·9 million replacement EU funding from Treasury, £0·5 million of green growth funding for fisheries, and £1 million green growth funding for blue carbon and marine recovery initiatives. For 2024-25, my Department will offer grant support under the following themes: investments on board fishing vessels and training; fisheries innovation, science and partnerships; environment and conservation action; blue carbon restoration; development of Northern Ireland's aquaculture; the processing and marketing of fish and aquaculture produce; and fishing port infrastructure. <BR /> <BR />In the longer term, the legislation will drive meaningful change to increase sustainability and economic resilience and deliver a significantly decarbonised sector and a thriving marine environment.”
“The statutory rule has been carefully developed to ensure that future grant schemes have the flexibility to meet new policies and the needs of the Northern Ireland fishing and seafood sector as they change over time. That includes the option to extend the types of funding that have been provided under previous grant support programmes, such as business diversification and progression towards net zero targets. <BR /> <BR />Subject to the Assembly's approval of the motion today, the regulations will be made and will come into operation to enable the application system to go live in July 2024. Approval of the statutory rule will enable £3·4 million of funding to be provided to stakeholders in the current financial year.”
“The scheme has been designed to support the needs of stakeholders, taking into account the contributions from those who responded to the Department's public consultation in 2022 and the subsequent stakeholder engagement. The statutory rule sets the overarching framework regulations for the payment of grants by my Department. It includes details of the application procedure, lists specific areas that are ineligible for funding and provides the Department with powers to attach conditions to grants, require the repayment of grants if certain conditions are not satisfied and provide for the enforcement function in relation to potential offences.”
“Tailored schemes for financial assistance are enforced in England, Scotland and Wales, and this statutory rule will provide the long-term legal basis for the payment of grants by my Department to Northern Ireland marine, fisheries — including inland fisheries — seafood and aquaculture stakeholders. I have met a broad range of stakeholders, and the opening of the scheme will provide much-needed support for the sector.”
“I am pleased to bring the statutory rule (SR) before the Assembly for approval. The draft Fisheries Act 2020 (Scheme for Financial Assistance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 are made under powers conferred by the Fisheries Act 2020. The draft regulations were laid in the Assembly on 30 May 2024 and are subject to the draft affirmative resolution procedure, hence today's debate. <BR /> <BR />Fisheries are a devolved matter, and the Fisheries Act 2020 provides the enabling powers for each of the fishing administrations of the UK to make schemes for financial assistance for marine and fisheries purposes.”
“He commended the plan to the Assembly. I commend it to the Executive.”
“My environmental improvement plan has six strategic environmental outcomes. I will outline them in writing to the Member. On 24 March 2022, Minister Edwin Poots MLA approved the environmental improvement plan and wrote to Executive colleagues. He made a statement to the Assembly on Thursday 24 March, which was the last Assembly sitting of that mandate. He said:”
“I am happy to consider that, but I am also happy to hear the views of other parties. Many Members talk about their commitment to animal welfare, but, when they were voting on the Bill in the previous mandate, they did not match that talk with action.”
“I thank the Member for his question. As I said, we will enter into a co-design process with animal welfare organisations in the time ahead, and I am keen to discuss all of that. I am also aware that my colleague sitting beside me, John Blair, did excellent work on the issue through his private Member's Bill. I hope that he is able to bring it back to the House, and I hope that Members are able to support it, because it is long past time that we outlawed that barbaric practice in Northern Ireland. Whether it is by John or by me, we will take action on it, because Northern Ireland should be ashamed of what has happened in our past on the issue.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary question. I am quite passionate about the issue. People probably guess that. Last week, I met the anglers and was told that children as young as five years old had witnessed fish gasping for air and dying as a result of that pollution. Children had to be brought inside the youth club because of that. We now have an opportunity in Northern Ireland to chart a different direction on water quality. I hope that we are able to do that in the time ahead. My Department is leading on many actions, as I have outlined in the Chamber today. When I was down there, I gave a commitment, and I will do so again today, to meet the local angling group over the weeks ahead so that we can work together to restore fish stocks in the river. It is important that we do that.”
“The Northern Ireland Environment Agency received a report of pollution affecting several miles of the Glenavy river, County Antrim, at 7.20 pm last Wednesday. Two water quality inspectors were immediately deployed to the area, where they confirmed a fish kill and began an investigation. On Thursday, inspectors returned to the site to continue the investigation, which is ongoing. I met the staff there. On 13 June, DAERA Inland Fisheries staff completed an assessment of the extent of the Glenavy fish kill. The assessment confirmed a major fish kill along a 4-kilometre stretch of the Glenavy river. A total of 522 brown trout of various age classes and one European eel were confirmed to have been killed. If there is any motivator to take action on water pollution, that is it.”
“I will use every opportunity that is available to take forward actions on that. Most importantly, I want to work with stakeholders — there is a long list of what needs to be done because this place did not sit for many years — so that, together, we can prioritise what we want to do over the time ahead.”
“In a short mandate, we have two main challenges. One is the time that is available for legislation. We will look at secondary legislation because, obviously, we can progress it a bit more quickly. We will also look at primary legislation and legislative consent motions. I am not precious, folks: whatever we can do to protect against animal cruelty, I will do it. I will work with anyone, North/South and east-west. We will also look at policy. <BR /> <BR />The other main issue is budget and the resources that we can get. I understand the concerns of district councils about funding. That is why I am bidding as part of June monitoring. I am also hearing the concerns of animal welfare charities and the pressures that they are under. We will look at monitoring rounds and budgetary bids to see how we can support that.”
“I will engage in that process with stakeholders as we shape a new way forward to improve protections against animal cruelty. Nothing is off the table. Everything is up for discussion, including a register of animal cruelty offenders. I want to consider that and the issue of penalties, which we talked about. I am very keen to explore that. I want to sit in the room and work with stakeholders to prioritise the way ahead. My Department wants to work with people to get the strongest protections against animal cruelty here in Northern Ireland.”
“I thank the Member for her question. It is an important issue. I am conscious of the challenges that I have in the Department, but I will not focus on those: I will focus on what I want to do on that issue. I want to take forward a significant range of policies and legislation, but I want to take a new approach to animal welfare. It is important that I set it out today. I want to engage with stakeholders through a process of co-design, so that, together, we can agree the way forward. We have fallen behind in Northern Ireland on protections against animal cruelty. Whilst we are taking action in this first year through the Pet Abduction Act 2024, taking forward Lucy's law and other measures, there is a lot more that we need to do.”
“— and I am focused on delivering on those issues with my Executive colleagues, because politics is about the art of the possible, not blocking and stopping things.”
“We have way more powers than we had before February —”
“I am accountable to the House for matters that are under my direction and control, and I am happy to answer any questions during this Question Time. The ultimate denial of democratic accountability was two years — two years — when the Assembly did not sit. We could not debate the issues that we are debating today. We could not debate the state of our health service. We could not debate the situation in education. Even worse, we could not do anything about those things. It is important that these institutions are back. We may have different views, and we may debate things —.”
“They are tired of people rehashing old arguments. They want people focusing on delivery for the citizens of Northern Ireland. We just talked about Lough Neagh. We want to deliver on that. If people want to rehash old arguments about EU exit, that is up to them. I am focusing on solutions and doing good work on veterinary medicines and other issues, because that is what I want to do as Minister.”
“I previously wrote to the UK Government asking for an update on what the Member asked about in his question, and it is correct that the independent monitoring panel has not been established. However, I do not need panels to engage with the UK Government; I do that regularly. Before the election period, I was doing it almost daily. I have meetings every month with UK Government Ministers, because I come to this job not searching for problems but looking for solutions. That is my entire focus in the Department. I said during my first Question Time and will say it again today: my ultimate aim in this Ministry is to make the whole issue of EU exit extremely boring. When other people go looking for problems, I go looking for solutions to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland, because they are tired of this.”
“NIEA inspectors continue to work with the company involved and will do so until the discharge is identified and stopped. NIEA treats all aspects of live investigations as if they are sub judice whilst they remain ongoing, and I cannot provide further details at this time.”
“The water pollution was confirmed by the NIEA inspector, and an investigation under the Water Order 1999 was initiated to attempt to identify the source. <BR /> <BR />The area involved is largely urbanised and industrial, and the culverted nature of the waterways and the sewerage system in the area can make investigation more difficult. A number of samples were collected last week that allowed NIEA inspectors to follow a definite line of enquiry regarding the source of the ongoing pollution. The company involved is investigating internally as a matter or urgency. It is dye testing and systematically closing down the production lines to attempt to identify the source of the pollution that is being discharged into the Loop river.”
“The pollution incidents that the Member has outlined are really concerning for me, and there are too many of them. To have fish kills occurring days after each other is a real matter of concern, and we need to take action. It is important to get these plans agreed and turn the situation around. <BR /> <BR />I am, unfortunately, detailing to the House another water pollution incident. On Friday 31 May 2024, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency received a water pollution report indicating that there was an odorous grey-coloured material present in the Loop river in the Montgomery Road/Ladas Drive area of Belfast. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency immediately deployed a water quality inspector to the area to confirm the report and assess the environmental impact.”
“I thank the Member for his question. The Loughs Agency was informed of a fish kill on a tributary of the River Roe near Burnfoot in Dungiven on 14 June, and that kill was confirmed as significant on 15 June. The Loughs Agency is leading the investigation and has powers of investigation and enforcement under the Foyle Fisheries Act. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency will assist in the investigation, as required.”
“Let us get the report and the environmental improvement plan agreed and actually show delivery and positive change for people in Northern Ireland.”
“I received some feedback on the report, and I will be engaging with stakeholders on Wednesday. I am engaging with the Lough Neagh Partnership, the Northern Ireland Environment Link, the Ulster Farmers' Union and the Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers Association. I am looking forward to that engagement so that we can get the report finalised for the end of this week. Hopefully, we can get it agreed at the Executive next week and give people in Northern Ireland hope after the scenes of last year. We are aware that there are already blue-green algae blooms in Lough Neagh, but we have hope that we will chart a course to turn the situation around. I am confident that we can do that, because together we can achieve so much more for the people of Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />My Department is getting cracking and is moving on this, but I need Executive approval for the significant elements that are cross-cutting or new, including the establishment of a model similar to the Forever Mournes partnership using the innovation lab; scoping a conservation management plan; investment in waste water infrastructure; investment in a science platform; a grant programme to support organisations that are working to support better water quality in the Lough Neagh area; a sentencing framework review of fines and penalties for environmental crime; and action on septic tanks. <BR /> <BR />This Executive will be judged on one thing: delivery. That is what I want to do.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I have the report here; it is ready to go. There are many actions that my Department is taking, some of which I outlined to Stewart Dickson. Our farm support and development programme is a significant programme to turn our farms towards an environmentally sustainable way forward. That has been very well-received and I am looking forward to continuing to deliver it. <BR /> <BR />Communications around the area are planned and are under way. We also have the soil nutrient health scheme; training planned for slurry contractors; the small business research initiative on the utilisation of livestock slurry; an independent scientific review of sand extraction; more resources for regulation and enforcement; and a scoping of the expansion of the sustainable catchment programme. There is lots more.”
“<BR /> <BR />Among the many actions that we are taking, I am commissioning an independent scientific review of the impact on Lough Neagh of sand extraction. I am putting more resources towards, and more regulation on, the Lough Neagh catchment area, and I am scoping the expansion of the sustainable catchment programme.”
“For example, through the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise, my Department has already delivered nutrient management programmes for farmers and land managers targeted on Lough Neagh catchment areas. <BR /> <BR />The Lough Neagh report and action plan is key and needs Executive approval, but there are many actions that I am taking, as I have outlined to the Chamber. Key to that is the future farm support and development programme, which is a new way forward that is focused on improved and sustainable productivity. Environmental sustainability, built-in resilience, food security and effective and functioning supply chains are key parts of that. The farming with nature package is also a key component.”