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Mr Andrew Muir: Assembly records
All of Mr Andrew Muir’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not qualifying, uncertain or not yet analysed.
I am aware of the concerns, and I share some of them. I spoke with officials yesterday and am seeking to get an understanding of the issues associated with the scheme. I will write to the Member. It is important that we support rural communities not only through that grant scheme but through a just transition on…
The just transition principle is something that I hold dearly. It runs through the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, and it is important that we implement the principle. The Just Transition Commission is being established. It has been set up in law, and the public appointments process is under way. We are in…
Thank you, Andy. Tackling climate change is not simply a must-do but a major opportunity for Northern Ireland. It can create significant opportunities for our communities; new green jobs and skills; greater energy security; warmer, healthier homes; businesses; nature restoration; and more resilient farms. That is…
My Department is driving a broad programme of climate action through cutting emissions, building resilience and delivering a fair transition for all people, businesses and rural communities. That work includes delivering the Northern Ireland climate change adaptation programme, establishing the just transition…
Scrabo Country Park, like all our country parks and nature reserves, is an important local asset with significant tourism, recreational and community value. The park is managed under an operational management plan that sets out planned improvement projects and routine maintenance, which is subject to available…
I suspected that the Member might raise that, so I have an answer. I thank my officials for pre-empting that. The pond is managed primarily for its biodiversity value. Given its location upstream of the River Roe and its tributaries and its special area of conservation and area of special scientific interest status,…
My Department is fully committed to the long-term future, sustainability and enhancement of Roe Valley Country Park, which is one of Northern Ireland's most important natural and recreational assets. Alongside an ongoing programme of routine maintenance, inspections and site-management activities, the operational…
Following substantial engagement through the NAP stakeholder task and finish group, a revised set of proposals has been consulted on. The consultation closed on 7 September. No final decision has been taken on the proposals. I intend to meet the stakeholder task and finish group shortly to agree the way forward. I…
I meet farmers regularly. I had a constructive meeting with the Ulster Farmers' Union last week and spoke to its president yesterday. I will continue to engage with people. Perhaps we need to distinguish between perception and reality: many farmers have approached me to state that they support the respectful way in…
I did reflect on it, and I read through Members' contributions in Hansard. To be honest, there was not much real substance to an awful lot of what was said. A lot of it was extremely personal against me. I am here to answer questions at Question Time. I go regularly to the Committee, and I believe in scrutiny.…
John, that is exactly what it was about. While the DUP has treated Northern Ireland as an environmental sacrifice zone, I am proud to be the only Minister in the history of the Department to treat the needs of our environment with the respect that it deserves. Environmental protection and climate action are not…
I am happy to follow up on that issue and come back to the Member. One of the challenges is budget cover associated with us delivering what the Department wants to deliver. When it comes to departmental business, on the day of that stunt of a motion, I was at the Court of Appeal to hear the outcome of the A5 case. I…
I will take no lessons on accountability from the DUP. After all, it was the DUP that delivered Brexit, the renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme, climate denial, hypocrisy and collapsing the institutions — a catalogue of scandals that are eroding confidence in the institutions. It is clear that populism has a grip on…
I chose not to respond because it was clear that the DUP had already made up its mind, regardless of what I had to say. Time and again, your party has proven itself to be insincere, uninterested in facts and evidence, opportunistic and self-serving. My time as Minister was better spent dealing with important…
As I set out in the debate, the consultation has been completed, the responses have been analysed and I am carefully considering the advice from officials. I seek that people respect the fact that it is a complex area, and I need to take advice from officials on the way forward, particularly on exemptions. The context…
I welcome the opportunity to respond to the motion, which goes directly to how we protect animal welfare and promote humane, evidence-based training for dogs and cats in Northern Ireland. Let me be clear: improving animal welfare is one of my highest priorities, and the use of devices that control behaviour through…
I am happy to clarify that. The Member will recognise that, with the UK internal market, there are rules on it, but, if the motion is passed, that will give me a clear view from the House on which to make a case for the UK Government to introduce such a measure across the UK.
I will write to the Member. There is a challenge around that because of the nature of the area. If it was a river, it would be much easier to establish the threat. I will write to the Member, because I recognise his concern about the matter.
The Member will be aware that each site is considered on its merits, but I am glad to outline the additional steps that we are considering taking. The issue of lithium ion batteries is of growing concern, not just in Northern Ireland but across the waste management sector more widely. The increasing number of…
Thank you, Sian. I do not apologise for being passionate about this, because animal welfare is a really important issue. I am incredulous that the deputy First Minister could not agree to it last Thursday. I do not ask much of Ministers: read your Executive papers, raise your queries and allow matters to go to a…
Thank you very much, Sian. For those who are not aware, Lucy's law is a ban on the third-party sale of pups and kittens. Many people have asked me to introduce it, and I am passionate about doing so. Many animal welfare organisations have also called for it. I compiled an Executive paper, circulated it and allowed…
The outcome from my continuing engagement is that I then engage further with the Department of Finance about Budget allocation. You mentioned the farm sustainability payment. We have managed to safeguard that payment this year and in future years. It is critical that we provide that support to the farming community in…
I continue to engage, as the Member outlined, with producers and processors. I recognise the pressures that they face, especially relating to the costs of fuel and fertiliser, which are particularly acute, according to what I read in the farming press. The Chancellor's forthcoming Budget will be critical, not only for…