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.
At the outset, I record my concerns about recent events concerning public representatives and my complete solidarity with Naomi and Michael Long, my ministerial colleague Liz Kimmins and Dáire Hughes MP. It is important that we all stand full square in defence of democracy in this place and that all Ministers record…
Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. As Minister, I am very aware of the importance of the apple harvest to growers in County Armagh and the positive impact that it delivers for the economy, the environment and biodiversity in the region. Before taking up this post, I often visited the "Orchard County". I have…
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, for the opportunity to make a statement to the Assembly on the recent suspected case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at a commercial poultry premises outside Omagh, County Tyrone. A veterinary investigation was instigated on Friday 3 October 2025 at a commercial broiler…
I inherited unparalleled challenges. We commissioned the Chief Veterinary Officer to tackle TB. On his first day in work, I said, "Congratulations," and gave him the task of reviewing the issue and finding a way forward. He did that, managing to get agreement from all the stakeholders around the table on a blueprint…
The Bill is wide-ranging with regard to the properties in question. There are already powers in place, but the legislation is outdated. The Bill will give much more flexibility with regard to potential fixed penalty notices. All MLAs in the Chamber will know of buildings that cause real dilapidation in neighbourhoods,…
It will have a very positive impact not just in North Antrim but in North Down, South Belfast and West Tyrone. That is what this place should be known for: delivery. The Dilapidation Bill will say to people who own the buildings, "Either you fix it, or the council will fix it and send you the bill". It will be an…
A key, fundamental issue is that, when we were in the EU, we had ring-fenced funding support for agriculture, agrienvironment, fisheries and rural development but that ended at the end of March 2025. I was the only Minister in the UK to secure ring-fencing of that funding in this and future years. It is absolutely…
My Department is doing that through the roll-out of the sustainable agriculture programme. We want to build resilience in farming and a successful future for it while ensuring that we meet our environmental goals. The idea that environmental protection and farming do not go hand in hand is untrue. We see it happening…
The overwhelming majority of our peatlands in Northern Ireland are in a degraded state. Many of them are emitting carbon rather than capturing it. By restoring our peatlands, we can turn that situation round and offer benefits to local communities. It is a win-win. I am grateful for the support that we have got…
Recently, I was delighted to launch the peatland strategy to 2040. It is Northern Ireland's first peatland strategy. It offers five strategic objectives and 26 actions that will allow us to move forward with the benefits of peatland restoration. The benefits are clear in carbon storage, nature restoration and improved…
I made it clear that we hope to make an announcement about an external facilitator this week. Hopefully, we will be able to have a meeting of the group in the time ahead. I am grateful for the role that everyone has played. It has been challenging — that is people's job — but it has been constructive, and we will work…
I must have been the subject of this morning's DUP team meeting on its strategy for questions. The answer to your allegation is a complete no. As Minister, I have been out and about, and your representations of me and the Alliance Party could not be further from the truth. As Minister, I am focused on delivery on the…
Once I have the resources, I will put them towards the development of the scheme. When I read the 'Irish Farmers Journal' every Wednesday evening, the North/South differential is not lost on me. Part of that is a result of leaving the EU. I am left with the consequences of that and have to develop new farm support…
Unlike my predecessor, that is a priority for me. When the measures under the sustainable agriculture programme were announced in March 2022, that matter did not feature. I have been clear that, once we get the farm sustainability payment and farm sustainability standards in place, we will move resources to support…
There have been two reports. The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute's (AFBI) 'RePhoKUs' study came out in 2020. That peer-reviewed science has been published. More recently, New Harmonica research has pointed towards the sources of pollution. Such research allows us to target our action. I will say two things. We can…
I am the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and I have been clear that water pollution needs to be dealt with. I will again say today, in case people were not listening, that sewage pollution of our waterways is not acceptable. I want to strengthen regulation and enforcement on that, because the…
That is something for which, thankfully, we have arrangements in place. We have the policing and community safety partnerships (PCSPs) in Northern Ireland that can shape local responses. I am happy to discuss with the Member any particular concerns that he has and relay those to my partners in the justice system.
Yes, I engaged with the Justice Minister on the importance of Rural Crime Week, and we profiled that because, collectively, working across government and with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, it is important that we raise awareness of those issues and encourage people to come forward and report them. The Member…
Mr McCrossan, I do not get involved in freedom of information requests to the Department. If I, as the Minister, were doing that, you would be the first to say that it was totally inappropriate. You have the right to appeal the decision. I am not going to say to officials, "Release this and do not release that"; that…
The request for freedom of information was processed and responded to in line with the relevant legislation. The relevant exemptions were applied in respect of withheld or redacted information, and that was fully outlined in the response. As Minister, I do not get involved in deciding what is released and what is not…
My Department continues to finalise the actions in the draft clean air strategy. The strategy's focus will be on improving air quality across Northern Ireland, including Belfast, with a focus on human health. Whilst my Department will lead on the work, there is an important role for other Departments to play to ensure…
The agreement was reached in May of this year. The UK Government are working through the negotiation of the legal text. We understand that implementation will take place in 2027. It will have real benefits for us when it comes to the movement of agri-food products between GB and NI. I have made it clear to the UK…
That is slightly complicated because of the Secretary of State's direction and control powers and the differential that sits in my Department. As Minister, I am aware of concerns that have been raised about movements of products from outside the European Union into the European Union and then across from Calais to…
I have engaged significantly with the UK Government on the issue on the back of recent reports, including the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee report that came out on 8 September. Movements of meat products between GB and NI largely sit with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural…
Responsibility for assessing and managing the risks from illegally imported meat rests with the UK Government through the border target operating model (BTOM). I continue to engage with UK Government counterparts and have emphasised the importance of implementing the BTOM at the earliest opportunity to strengthen…