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.
Thank you, Kate, for your question on a serious issue not just for me but for the people of Northern Ireland and, hopefully, for the people in the Gallery. At the outset, it is important to state that, on the basis of the science and evidence that I have reviewed to date, it is, unfortunately, highly likely that we…
I am conscious of the vires of my Department and its responsibilities, but I get the issues that you raise. I will consider them. It is important that we learn lessons. Far too often in Northern Ireland, we do not learn lessons. We need to learn lessons. There are many examples of where we should learn lessons, with…
Thank you, Patsy, for your question. Whilst I recognise that the lead responsibility for that will sit with the Department for the Economy, I recognise your concerns, because broadband, particularly in rural areas, is vital so that people can do their jobs and conduct their business, whether that means being able to…
I am working to fulfil my Department's statutory obligations under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007. That will include the publication of the outstanding 2019 and 2023 reviews of sensitive areas and, subject to Executive approval, the identification of the inner Belfast lough…
I am pleased to report that the implementation of the Lough Neagh report and action plan and the environmental improvement plan has been progressing since I received Executive approval for them last year. Those reports contain a comprehensive range of actions to secure longer-term improvements in water quality across…
I am aware of the challenges that relate to Northern Ireland Water being a statutory consultee in planning. We have put staff and new processes in place, but we need to do better. We are looking to recruit additional staff so that we can turn applications around more swiftly. I encourage people who are putting…
The impact of high levels of nutrients specifically relates to water quality. That is why we are working with the industry on a way forward. I thank those who are working on some of the initiatives that were brought forward to manage poultry litter, but we need to do a lot more in that regard. That is why we will…
I thank the Member for his important questions. It is essential that we have transparency and accurate information about the movement of poultry litter and manure to the Republic of Ireland. That is needed for animal health and disease control reasons, as well as environmental reasons. DAFM, which is my Department's…
Poultry litter is a mixture of poultry manure and bedding material that is derived from commercial poultry houses. It is classified as a category 2 animal by-product, and it must be disposed of in compliance with certain conditions in order to mitigate disease risks. It can be moved to Ireland only under certain…
My view from the Dispatch Box is that polluters who are polluting Northern Ireland's waterways, be that Belfast lough, Lough Neagh, Lough Erne or elsewhere, need to get their house in order. The sewage and other pollution that is happening in Northern Ireland is not acceptable. I am surprised that there is not more…
Thank you. I will write to the Member about the Connswater river specifically. The water quality in Belfast lough is a concern for me. One of the key contributors to that — the Member referred to it as "matter" — is sewage. There is a need to invest in the waste water infrastructure, but that is the responsibility of…
I thank the Member for her question. I need specific areas, because Belfast lough is a large area. We can write to the Member with detail around that, because it is important to outline that to you. It is also important that I comment on the water quality more broadly in Belfast lough, my concerns around that and what…
Water quality in Belfast lough is assessed in multiple ways by my Department. Under the Quality of Bathing Water Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008, bathing water quality in Belfast lough is assessed weekly throughout the bathing season, which is from 1 June to 15 September, at Helen’s Bay, Crawfordsburn, Brompton,…
I am aware of that issue, because forestry sits in my Department. The Farming with Nature transition scheme, which will come out this year, is an actions-based scheme and will help with some element of the problem. The further schemes that will roll out next year will have a wider implication for it. The Forest…
That is probably the first invite of this calendar year to make a farm visit. I am delighted to accept it, because making such visits is a highlight of the job. I look forward to taking up the invitation.
The Farming with Nature package is one of my top priorities. It is my ambition to scale up nature-friendly farming, with all farmers being rewarded for delivering environmental public goods alongside food production and that Farming with Nature will become an important enterprise on farms. The package will be…
I will write to the Member to share my Department's two bits of analysis. The detailed differential impact analysis, which shows the different sectors affected, states that the dairy sector is most likely to be affected more than others in Northern Ireland. That is obviously a concern for me. Hopefully, that analysis,…
Thank you, Mr Crawford, for your important question. My Department's analysis clearly demonstrates that there will be a disproportionate and detrimental impact in Northern Ireland, because we are made up of a patchwork quilt of family farms, and that is where the impact will be felt. I plead again from the Dispatch…
Thank you. I will stick to my two minutes. The Farming for the Generations pilot scheme, which is included in the sustainable agriculture programme, will be the policy instrument for supporting generational renewal. I am pleased to say that the scheme, which was launched in autumn 2024, has already proven to be very…
With your permission, Mr Deputy Speaker, I will group questions 3 and 6 for answer. I met the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in October last year to emphasise my concerns about the impact of the planned inheritance tax changes on our family farms. A letter was issued to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 18…
The Member raises a number of issues. What I am doing is taking forward the will of the Assembly. The Assembly voted unanimously at Final Stage in 2022 for the climate change legislation. I am also realising the opportunities from decarbonisation. What I do not do is negate the other challenges in our society,…
The Northern Ireland climate commissioner will be a key part of a world-leading climate advice structure here in Northern Ireland and will work alongside the just transition commission, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) and the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP). The Northern Ireland climate commissioner will…
I have delivered progress across a number of areas. Regulations that place climate change reporting duties on specified public bodies came into operation on 3 May 2024. Regulations that set in law Northern Ireland's first three carbon budgets for the periods 2023-27, 2028-2032 and 2033-37 and a new emissions reduction…
The Member touches upon an important issue: it is about not just the financial impact on farmers with regard to compensation but the wider issue around that. There is also an environmental issue in terms of greenhouse gas emissions as a result of overstocking. That is something that I am determined to deal with. I…