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.
Legislative Consent Motion: Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill That this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill, as introduced in the House of Commons on 10 September 2025, and contained in clauses 2–9,…
Thank you, Andy. I would like to take part in the fund, but you have asked the key question of whether I have the budget envelope to do so. I do not want to write back to say yes and then not have the cash. I will get advice from officials, but there is a benefit to my Department working in conjunction with all…
Thank you, Andy. I have received a letter from the Communities Minister asking whether I want to participate in it. I am waiting for advice from officials because we have to consider how we do it correctly. Once that advice comes back, I will write back to the Communities Minister. I see the benefits of the fund, but…
Thank you. The funding that we have received from the Shared Island Fund for the regionalised cross-border approach is absolutely key. The island of Ireland is a single epidemiological area. That is why we want to work together on this. I thank my ministerial counterpart in the South, Martin Heydon, and the Department…
Engagement with the agriculture sector is a core part of the blueprint. That is why we have the stakeholder partnership and want to work together on it. We are keen to work with people on the issue, particularly in relation to the cattle interventions. We want to be able to understand if there are any concerns and how…
These standards have been developed to meet the agricultural and environmental needs that are unique to Northern Ireland. Through them, we can take a more focused approach in helping to address current issues in water quality, for instance. The standards promote good farm management and responsible stewardship, which…
Farm sustainability standards are a modern, proportionate and simpler regime covering environmental, public and animal health and welfare issues in Northern Ireland. The majority of farmers care deeply for their livestock and want to protect the environment for future generations. The new penalty regime, which was…
As Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, I am committed to power-sharing and to working with my Executive colleagues. However, I am finding the gridlock that we have in getting papers agreed by the Executive increasingly frustrating. The extent of that gridlock means that we now have to maintain a…
Thank you, John. A just transition commission arises from the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022. It was the result of an amendment that the House agreed without Division. It is a very important commitment, because just transition runs throughout the climate change legislation. It is about ensuring a fair and…
As I outlined, we have agreed a blueprint and are focused on delivering that under its three pillars. We have made a bid for transformation funding from the Executive Office, we have Shared Island funding and we are pushing ahead with a regionalised approach. We are putting resources into the situation. I reassure…
Those are major challenges not only for my Department but for the farming community in Northern Ireland. We have the financial resources to deal with them in our current situation, but we cannot predict the future. That is the nature of animal disease. It is important that I reassure you that we have put resources…
Part of that involves the farm sustainability standards that the Committee agreed, and I thank the Committee for its engagement with officials on those. The farm sustainability standards are a balanced, proportionate and robust way forward that replace cross-compliance. Hopefully, people will get acquainted with the…
I am very proud to be the only Minister in the UK to secure over £300 million in ring-fenced funding for agriculture, agrienvironment, fisheries and rural development. That is not the case in England, Scotland and Wales. We are determined to utilise that funding to support farm families in Northern Ireland. That is…
We take a risk-based approach to that. There have been no movements from GB to NI for a significant period because England and Wales, unfortunately, have been affected by bluetongue. We will continue to take a risk-based approach. Essentially, Northern Ireland is in lockdown when it comes to bluetongue, and it is…
Officials have started work on that; I would need to check whether they are on-farm today but I know that they want to have that testing completed this week. It is important that we do that for additional surveillance. Alongside the testing, midge traps have been set so that we can test those. There is also additional…
As the Member rightly outlines, it is about resource rather than capital, which adds extreme complexity and challenge to the issue, particularly in relation to the potential cost. The process for agreeing that, getting Executive approval and then undertaking the work will take a number of years, and we will have to…
Thank you, Mark. The public consultation on the draft remediation strategy closed on 2 October. In total, 26 responses were received. Those responses and the views of the consultees will be carefully considered in order to inform any necessary amendments to the draft remediation strategy. There will then be further…
My Department is conscious of its responsibilities for raising awareness of the matter, which we do every year in the run-up to Halloween. It is also aware of the responsibilities of the Department of Justice. I reached out to the Minister of Justice today in anticipation of such a question. The Minister is conscious…
With fireworks being set off after dark, potential impacts are difficult to assess. My Department does not hold any data or evidence on their effect on wildlife. In common with domestic pets and farmed animals, possible impacts are likely to include fear, stress and disorientation, which may result in self-injury or…
A comprehensive agreement between the UK and the EU would be a welcome development. I know that it was not part of the announcement on the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agri-food agreement in May, but there are ongoing discussions now. If it becomes part of that agreement, that will be welcome. The closer the…
As I outlined at the beginning of my response to the substantive questions, the matter does not sit under my direction and control. I have made the case to the UK Government on a number of occasions about the importance of communication and clarity to the sector. I will continue to make that case to the UK Government.…
Mr Speaker, with your permission, I will group questions 6 and 15. Under the Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations 2024, the supply of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland is a matter under the direction and control of the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Since taking office, I…
Thank you, Patsy. I am keen to get it on to my desk, so that I can consider it and give you a definitive answer. I know that time is of the essence in providing that support, and it is important that we do so. The serious impact on fishermen as a result of the ecological issues in Lough Neagh is something that weighs…
A business case for the scheme of financial assistance for commercial Lough Neagh fishermen due to the closure of the 2025 brown eel season has been completed. It is being quality-assured by my Department, before the proposal is submitted for my consideration later this week. Blue-green algae is a symptom of broader…
A worked example has been given. Representations have been made by the farming unions, by us and by many in Parliament, including the EFRA Committee, in relation to the suggestions from the Centre for the Analysis of Taxation (CenTax), which is a tax advisory body. It outlined practical suggestions on how we could…