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.
1,670 records match, page 21 of 67.
One of my 10 pledges for the mandate is to publish and work to deliver a nature recovery strategy to ensure that 30% of land and sea is protected and well managed for nature by 2030. The Member will note that I recently launched a draft nature recovery strategy for consultation. Improving our environment is vital for…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: National Park City Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: National Park City
Thank you, Sian. Last year, I committed to developing for consultation a new evidence-based rural policy, which received the support of my Executive colleagues. My Department has worked closely with rural stakeholders, Departments, local government and other stakeholders to co-design outline proposals. My intention is…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Rural Businesses and Organisations: Support Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Rural Businesses and Organisations: Support
My Department supports rural businesses and voluntary and community organisations through the rural business development grant scheme and the rural micro capital grant scheme, which are delivered under the tackling rural poverty and social isolation framework. In December 2025, over £6 million of grant aid was awarded…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Rural Businesses and Organisations: Support Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Rural Businesses and Organisations: Support
I am happy to engage with the Infrastructure Minister about the matter. I am acutely aware of the impact that pollution has had on generations of communities in that area because my family came from the New Lodge. I am happy to engage with the Infrastructure Minister and will come back to you on that.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Air Pollution: Inner-city Traffic Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Air Pollution: Inner-city Traffic
Thank you, Carál. That is an important question, because air pollution disproportionately impacts on deprived communities in Northern Ireland, and it is important that we take action. We are working on a clean air strategy for Northern Ireland. Officials are pulling that together, and it will hopefully go out to…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Air Pollution: Inner-city Traffic Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Air Pollution: Inner-city Traffic
I am glad to have got Executive agreement to progress that, and the Bill is being drafted, after consultation was undertaken last year. It will raise the maximum penalty. It is important that we do that to act as a deterrent, but it also gives us the ability to issue fixed penalty notices in relation to water…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Animal Cruelty and Environmental Crime: Sentencing Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Animal Cruelty and Environmental Crime: Sentencing
Thank you, Danny. That is a really important issue, and that is why I am glad that the Justice Minister has announced, and will work with my Department on, a sentencing review in those two areas. It is important that we do that. Alongside that, there are other actions that we are taking as a Department, whether in…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Animal Cruelty and Environmental Crime: Sentencing Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Animal Cruelty and Environmental Crime: Sentencing
I agree with you on that. Let us see whether we can get officials from my Department to meet you and other relevant individuals so that we can ensure that actions are taken to preserve the terns for future generations.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Arctic Terns: Cockle Island Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Arctic Terns: Cockle Island
I thank the Member for his question. I am aware of the specifics of that, because the constituent who raised it with him has also raised it with me. It is a great part of Groomsport village that we want to value. I am happy to meet the Member — not on site, because we would have to go across the water — alongside…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Arctic Terns: Cockle Island Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Arctic Terns: Cockle Island
We need to improve planning performance so that people can get decisions on their applications swiftly. The NIEA is just one of a number of statutory consultees. There is also a wider issue with our planning system in Northern Ireland, and we want to make sure that we are turning decisions around much quicker. I…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Planning Application Delays: NIEA Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Planning Application Delays: NIEA
Thank you for your question. As I outlined earlier, there is a planning performance plan that we are seeking to progress. It is important that we do that, because we need to turn around those responses quicker. There is also an obligation on those submitting those applications to ensure that they submit all the…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Planning Application Delays: NIEA Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Planning Application Delays: NIEA
My Department has been working with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council on three growth deal projects that will result in investment of £15·3 million in rural areas across the borough. The Dungiven regeneration project is a £6·7 million project that encompasses an upgrade of the public realm, a streetscape…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Dungiven Regeneration Project Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Dungiven Regeneration Project
Thank you, Peter. Participants in social farming experience benefit as a result of reduced stress, anxiety and depression alongside increased physical activity. The carers and participating social farmers feel more connected to their community and develop new friendships and social networks. Participants also acquire…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Social Farming Capital Grant Scheme Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Social Farming Capital Grant Scheme
As a result of the social farming capital grant scheme, recipients will be able to provide enhanced facilities for participants to take part in meaningful farm work. Improvements to social farms because of the social farming capital grant scheme 2025-26 include the renovation of existing farm buildings, improving…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Social Farming Capital Grant Scheme Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Social Farming Capital Grant Scheme
Quite a lot of work has been done, and more will be done. Fundamentally, it is about raising people's awareness of the importance of biosecurity. We will engage through that Shared Island initiative, because we recognise that the issue does not respect borders. We want to continue to raise awareness of it. I…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Quagga Mussels: Lower Lough Erne Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Quagga Mussels: Lower Lough Erne
The highly invasive quagga mussel was confirmed as present in Lower Lough Erne, which was the first Northern Ireland occurrence, on 10 December 2025. Due to the similarity with zebra mussels, DNA sequencing was used to verify identity. Departmental officials are scoping an environment DNA (eDNA) surveillance programme…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Quagga Mussels: Lower Lough Erne Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Quagga Mussels: Lower Lough Erne
As I outlined earlier, I was glad that we agreed a blueprint for the way forward on the issue on the basis of three pillars: people, cattle and wildlife. It is important that we take action on the matter. I will consult on wildlife interventions this spring, and I encourage people to respond to that consultation and…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Animal Welfare Pathway 2025-27 Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Animal Welfare Pathway 2025-27
I thank the Member for his question. We are the only part of the UK that does not have mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses, so I was glad to get agreement from the Executive last week to progress such legislation. We will engage with the Committee on the issue so that we can legislate for it and bring it in as a…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Animal Welfare Pathway 2025-27 Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Animal Welfare Pathway 2025-27
Animal welfare remains one of my key priorities, and I am pleased that work is continuing at pace to take forward the reforms contained in my animal welfare pathway. In terms of progress to date, legislation on mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses has been drafted, and steps are being taken to secure the necessary…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Animal Welfare Pathway 2025-27 Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Animal Welfare Pathway 2025-27
Increasing woodland cover is one of my Department's priorities. The current forestry strategy, 'Northern Ireland Forestry: A Strategy for Sustainability and Growth', sets out the long-term objective to increase woodland cover, which is currently 8·6% of Northern Ireland's land area, to 12% by 2050. That aim aligns…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Lough Neagh: Tree Planting Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Lough Neagh: Tree Planting
I will write to the Member setting out the figures for which I bid. I will say, however, that the draft Budget, which is out for consultation, makes for grim reading for my Department. If the funding materialises, it is likely that we will not be replacing posts when they become vacant and that no additional staff…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Lough Neagh: Tree Planting Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Lough Neagh: Tree Planting
I agree with the Member that restoring Lough Neagh requires taking an ambitious approach and difficult decisions. It is important that we do so for the sake of people who rely on the lough and the communities around it, as well as because 40% of our drinking water comes from it. Afforestation is an important issue for…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Lough Neagh: Tree Planting Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Lough Neagh: Tree Planting
Trees and woodland play an important role in reducing the pollution entering our waterways, which is particularly relevant due to the scale of the Lough Neagh water catchment areas. Over the past three years, approximately 242,000 trees have been planted in the Lough Neagh catchment under forestry grant schemes. DAERA…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Lough Neagh: Tree Planting Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Lough Neagh: Tree Planting
Investment in nature is critical if we are to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. In 2025, I committed £3·2 million to support nature recovery projects through the environment fund. The nature recovery challenge fund offers grants to support environmental projects to deliver in the key areas of nature recovery…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Nature Recovery Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Nature Recovery Strategy
Members will be aware that I made an oral statement to the House and launched the draft nature recovery strategy for public consultation on 20 January. The consultation will remain open for eight weeks, following which the strategy will be finalised for publication. It is extremely important that citizens from all…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Nature Recovery Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Nature Recovery Strategy
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