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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 will continue to fight my Department's corner for farmers and the environment, because that is really important. On Brexit, if people look at the figures on the headcount in my Department, they will see that there has been no increase in resources since 2018, setting aside the additional resources that had to be…
I have not met the new UK Prime Minister, but my colleagues have. I continue to engage with my ministerial counterparts, including the DEFRA Minister. The fundamental issue is that Northern Ireland needs a fair funding settlement. Look at the settlements for Wales and Scotland. It is not right that we are not funded…
The Member will know well that that is not what I said, but why let facts get in the way of a good story? The reality is that I have massive respect for the overwhelming majority of farmers in Northern Ireland. They are the custodians of our countryside who do a fantastic job. What I said at the Committee, which you…
If that is all that you can muster for Question Time, given the major challenges that we have in farming and the environment, I question your ability to do proper scrutiny in the House.
I take that on board and will consider how we can raise awareness of the scheme. Genetics and science are a way through some of the challenges that we have in agriculture, and it is important that we embrace that. I take on board your point about how we can raise further awareness of the scheme. Again, I thank all…
I do not have the exact figures, but it is a ground-breaking and really welcome initiative. There is a conditionality associated with the farm sustainability payments that we give to farmers to take part in it. The reason for that is the benefits that it can deliver in relation not just to animal health and disease…
I do not have the information to hand, but I will pass it on to Dr Blake as a question that has been raised and to which a response is sought. I say this to you and to many others: I am sincere about animal welfare and understand its importance. At a previous Question Time, I set out the review of our enforcement…
As the Member is aware, I commissioned an independent, external review. Dr Martin Blake is undertaking that review. I expect it to be completed by the middle of October. I would like to be able to publish the review's findings and recommendations, and the departmental response, in due course thereafter. As the Member…
The establishment of an independent environmental protection agency is a matter that must be considered and agreed by the Executive. It is a necessary step in order to secure resources from the Office of the Legislative Counsel for the development and introduction of primary legislation. That step cannot be taken by…
The health effects of air pollution are now well established and backed up by research that shows that there are clear links between air pollution and negative health outcomes. A British Heart Foundation report from 2023, 'Air Pollution and Mortality on the Island of Ireland', highlighted the fact that 936 deaths in…
The draft clean sir strategy sets out a range of measures that will improve air quality across Northern Ireland, including in urban areas such as South Belfast, where people can be more exposed to pollution from transport, domestic heating and other sources. The strategy is currently out for public consultation, and I…
Thank you, John. The NIEA works closely with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service on waste-fire prevention, incident response and the identification of lessons learned following significant fire events. To strengthen further that partnership, the NIEA and the Fire and Rescue Service are currently reviewing…
I thank the Member for his question. I can give him an assurance that there will be maximum transparency within the law. As he probably recognises, when it comes to any enforcement cases, we have a process to follow, but the default position is transparency. As the Member is aware, that was the second large fire at…
Waste management authorisations require operators to manage waste in a manner that protects human health and the environment. Authorisation conditions include requirements relating to fire prevention, waste storage and operational controls proportionate to the risks posed by the waste being handled. I recognise the…
I work night and day to achieve a future that is thriving and resilient and is environmentally sustainable for farming. That is hard, because the challenges are immense, but I am committed to doing that. We want to see measures that are workable at farm level within realistic time frames, but we also want to meet our…
As I set out, the criteria for the stakeholder group were very clear. We must strive for that, but we also must abide by the law. When we talk about the rule of law, in this role, my focus is not just on criminal law but on environmental law, and it is important that we abide by that. Alongside that, we must support…
The consequences are twofold. They are catastrophic, frankly. If we do not address the issues that I have warned the House about repeatedly, we will have a significant issue when it comes to the long-term viability of farming and our international reputation, which we rely upon for trade. We also face the complete and…
I welcome the detailed advice and recommendations that I received from the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) in its response to the consultation on the proposed measures in the revised nutrients action programme (NAP). My Department is carefully considering those recommendations alongside all the other…
— and support charity as well. I accept that — I am aware that people have a concern about what is in the outfall in those areas. We need to have more EDMs and more real-time monitoring and reporting of those. It is a key part of our waste water regulatory reform programme to see those EDMs rolled out more broadly by…
The Member will be aware that, in our constituency, we have a number of designated bathing areas, including Helen's Bay and Crawfordsburn. I invite him to join me at Helen's Bay on Christmas Eve. I am sure that you will step up to that —
I would be delighted to do that. What is more, I will give you a challenge. I am happy to do that down in your constituency, and, if we can go for a dip as part of that, I would be delighted to take up the offer.
I am committed to ensuring that Northern Ireland's bathing waters framework remains fit for purpose and reflects how people use our rivers, lakes and coastal waters today. Protecting public health and improving water quality remain central to my intent. Northern Ireland continues to enjoy high-quality bathing waters,…
We are making steady progress on the delivery of the Lough Neagh action plan. A number of actions are particularly challenging, one of which sits with the Department for Infrastructure, namely investment in waste water infrastructure. That is one of the key issues. We need to be brave and face up to that issue. It is…
I am not in a position to advise on behalf of HMRC. That is something for it to consider. If the Member wishes to raise that issue with HMRC, I am sure that it will give him clarity on it.
I have many good relationships with farmers who are committed to nature-friendly farming and our environment, and I congratulate them for that. As I set out in my response to the substantive question, £49 million has been secured under the Shared Ireland initiative to support nature-based solutions on farms as part of…