All of Mr Andrew Muir’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
We will look through the recommendations that came back from the expert panel to see what we can progress, but a lot of them relate to setting up an independent environmental protection agency. That is why these institutions need to be reformed. It seems to me that one party complains vociferously about an Irish Sea…
Thank you, David. Northern Ireland is an outlier in the UK and Ireland in its not having an independent environmental protection agency. The case for having one is clear. I commissioned an independent expert panel to look at the issue. It came back with a detailed report that outlined the case and rationale for that…
The whole purpose of the funding and support is to provide those protections. For example, I am very aware of the vulnerability to wildfires in the Belfast hills. Looking after our nature better is a way to prevent that. If there is an interest from the Member and other North Belfast representatives, I would be happy…
Thank you, Gerry. We face twin challenges here in relation to the climate crisis and also to nature and biodiversity. It is important that we take action on both fronts, because they are interrelated. That is why we are out to consultation — I know that people are frustrated with consultations, but legally we are…
As the Member will be aware, there is an active planning application. I have to respect the process around that. My preference is to recycle and reuse.
Forest Service offers a number of schemes. We have lost a lot of forest cover as a result of recent storms. That is the outworking of climate change: we are having more severe and regular storms in Northern Ireland. Those schemes are in place. However, alongside that, it is important that we have a climate adaptation…
I am happy for officials to engage with you on that and get more detail. It is a very creative question. We are happy to consider what we can do around that.
I have been asked about this, and there are two issues that we have to be very conscious of: our legal obligations, particularly for the environment, and animal welfare. People have asked questions of me like the one that you have asked but have not provided the detail behind that of what exactly the ask is. I am…
The Department is continuing to monitor the situation. I am very conscious that we had the wettest January in around 149 years. That is having an impact across Northern Ireland. Officials are continuing to engage with the Ulster Farmers' Union on this. The legal requirements remain, but we are very aware of the…
I followed that issue up again today with officials, because it is important that we take action on it. That includes engaging with the UK Government. I will update Members on the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, which was announced a number of months ago. As you are aware, we are not getting our fair share of that.…
As Minister, I first became aware of that when it was announced, which I am very disappointed about. I am very concerned about the change in the Isle of Man's immigration policy, which is now affecting Northern Ireland fishing vessels' access to Isle of Man waters. I am very disappointed about the lack of prior…
Daniel, if I were able to fill those posts today, I would. One of the issues is about the Northern Ireland Civil Service HR's being able to get people recruited and into post. Members will be aware of the Northern Ireland Audit Office report on that and the need for change. I have engaged with the Finance Minister on…
As officials outlined to the Committee, there is a planning performance plan in place. I am going to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency offices in Lisburn to engage directly with officials on the progress of that. I get that it needs to be improved. We are working on it. We need resources, and we need to get…
As I mentioned, Minister Heydon and I are due soon to launch the new bovine TB eradication pilot in north-east Donegal and part of the area covered by Derry City and Strabane District Council. The regionalisation pilot will serve as a proof-of-concept model and will enable us to trial, evaluate and refine…
I am aware of the judicial review, and I have read the judgement. As the Member outlined, my predecessor's proposed wildlife intervention was split into two parts for the judicial review. The legislative basis needs to be addressed. There is currently no specific primary or secondary legislation that explicitly…
Thank you, Stephen. I am aware of the case that you outline. While TB has an impact in my Department, the mental health impact that it has on the farming community in Northern Ireland weighs upon me. I am aware of the farmer you cite and the impact that the situation is having on him and his family business. It is…
I recognise that this is a technical area, but it is important to respect the veterinary science around it all. As I set out in my response, the TB partnership's blueprint recognises that all factors that contribute to the spread and endurance of this terrible disease need to be tackled if we are to set Northern…
Mr Speaker, with your permission, I will answer questions 6 and 7 together. The surveillance of bovine TB in the badger population in Northern Ireland is primarily collected through my Department's road traffic accident survey. Over the past five years, the survey has indicated that TB prevalence in badgers is at a…
There is a range of powers in the legislation to deal with the issue. As I have outlined, reporting fly-tipping and illegal dumping to the council or the Northern Ireland Environment Agency is the most fundamental thing that people can do to enable a prompt follow-up. Over the weekend, people contacted me on Facebook…
I am happy to speak to the Member afterwards or to correspond with him about the incident that he referenced. There are resourcing challenges in my Department; I have been open about that. We have over 800 vacancies in the Department, and that affects the Northern Ireland Environment Agency as it does other parts of…
I will have to come back to the Member with the figures, because they will need to be collated by the councils and us. Waste crime in Northern Ireland has a cost. The biggest example of that is potentially one of the largest illegal dumps in Europe at Mobuoy just outside Derry, which will cost between £100 million and…
The Northern Ireland Environment Agency's environmental crime unit (ECU) investigates and prosecutes serious waste crimes in Northern Ireland using its enforcement powers under the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997. Criminal prosecutions may include confiscation under the Proceeds of Crime Act…
You lifted me up, and you put me down. I will need to check the figures, because I do not have them in front of me. I will write to the Member on that.
If the Member wants, I am happy to review that target. It is important that we get the payments out on time. I thank staff for delivering 98% of payments on the first day last year. I will say one thing to the House. We have only a draft Budget, and it is a draft Budget that was issued for consultation by the Finance…