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, Patsy, for your question. You highlight an important issue: the people most affected by the storm were vulnerable people in rural communities. Many have been without electricity, water and broadband, which is key to day-to-day life, particularly for those working from home. They have been without those…
That is slightly unrelated to the question, but it is an important issue. I will ask my private office to contact your constituency office today to get a bit more understanding of the issues and see how we can resolve them.
This is a matter of concern for me, because it was devastating when it arrived. That is why I have spoken to my colleague across the border, Martin Heydon, and previously to Charlie McConalogue. I have also spoken to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Baroness Hayman from DEFRA. There has been significant…
The emergence of foot-and-mouth disease in Germany is of significant concern not only for our livestock owners but for agriculture sectors across the UK, Ireland and the European Union. I assure Members that my Department has robust contingency plans in place to manage the risk of the disease in order to protect our…
That is a very broad question. I am very conscious that legislation is in place, including the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. If the Member has any concerns, I ask him to raise them with the council, as councils are primarily the enforcement authority for that matter.
I do plenty of thinking, Matthew. I took the issue forward and met my then counterpart, Minister Charlie McConalogue. Martin Heydon has now taken over, and I had a really good conversation with him last week. We discussed whether the South plans to bring forward a register of that nature, and I was informed that it…
When it comes to the current licensing regime for establishments, legislation allows my Department to license four distinct animal businesses. I am, however, acutely aware of the fact that those laws have their origins in 1972. There are potentially much better ways of doing things, and other animal-related businesses…
I would be delighted to do so. It is really important that I record my appreciation of and support for the many animal welfare organisations that operate in Northern Ireland, including Assisi and many more, such as Cats Protection, Dogs Trust and the Ulster Society for the Prevention Cruelty to Animals (USPCA). Those…
Mr Speaker, with your permission, I will group questions 5 and 6. I confirm that my Department is advancing preparations to introduce a version of Lucy's law for Northern Ireland. In the coming weeks, I intend to launch a full public consultation on mandatory CCTV in abattoirs. I am also actively considering my animal…
I am engaging with the new Finance Minister on the issues. Yes, we have dual market access, about which the leader of the Opposition is chuntering from a sedentary position. I have promoted that quite often. In general, however, Brexit has not worked out very well for the UK, particularly for rural communities.
One thing that has perhaps been overlooked is the impact of Brexit on the rural development programme. It is something that I see every day in my Ministry. When I visited Loughmacrory, I saw the facilities that had been supported there, but funding was not available thereafter. Brexit was a really bad idea for not…
I assure the Member that we are giving active consideration to that. The previous Minister, who is in the Chair today — I am not looking for any extra time as a result of my saying this — introduced the scheme as a pilot initiative. We have to consider where that fits into our new policy and provide a bit of…
We are giving active consideration to how we can support rural halls in the context of the new policy. Initial discussion took place with officials last week about that. It is something that I want to tease out a bit more, however. I understand why many people have made representations to me about the importance of…
I thank Mr Buchanan for his question. The question is about rural communities and rural halls, so I record my thanks to the rural communities across Northern Ireland for the support that they have given to so many people who were affected by the recent storm. As I have said a number of times, I am very grateful for…
Part of the consultation that was undertaken last year, which I have talked about, related to businesses and waste. I will announce a way forward on that over the time ahead. There are already laws in place around the issue of businesses and packaging. I am happy to write to the Member to outline the situation and the…
The Member talks about an issue that I am quite excited about. It is a positive development in farming. There is so much good work in farming, and some of it has been highlighted today. The role of anaerobic digestion is growing, and we need to make sure that we do it in a coordinated fashion. I engage with the…
There will be significant benefits. My officials have been working closely with the Department for the Economy — I congratulate Caoimhe Archibald on her appointment as Minister for the Economy — on the development of a circular economy strategy to support the ambition of delivering a low-carbon circular economy. The…
Thank you, Mr Brett. The Member raises an important issue, in that one of the other issues that relate to this is how we can create better public understanding of what can and cannot be recycled and which bins to use. Sometimes, there is confusion around that. Last year, my officials undertook a consultation around…
I am committed to assisting local councils to transform kerbside recycling and household recycling centre infrastructure and services to help meet our recycling targets and deliver a circular economy in Northern Ireland through my Department's £23 million household waste recycling collaborative change programme. That…
I am working hard to deliver for farmers in Northern Ireland. I am proud of that. I have delivered key successes in the draft Budget. We are the only region of the UK to get ring-fenced funding for agriculture, agrienvironment, fisheries and rural development not just for the next financial year but for future years.…
The council's 'Segregation and the Environment' report highlights the issues that we face with duplication of services: lack of connectivity between people and communities; parallel services and buildings that all need to become climate-resilient; and additional costs that we therefore bear, both financially and in…
My officials have regular engagement with many of our local authorities that are leading the way in some of their innovative local climate initiatives. I am aware of and have read Belfast City Council's important work through the development of the report, 'Segregation and the Environment: Breaking Down Barriers'.…
I thank the Member for her supplementary question. It took a while to get the EIP agreed, but I am a runner and I do marathons. What you do is train harder and work hard at it. That is what I do with my Executive colleagues, and that is how we get progress in this place as part of a power-sharing Executive. I share…
Before I commence my answer, I want, one year since taking up office as Minister, to thank the officials in my Department who have supported me over the last 12 months and the officials in the Assembly who organise the business here. I approach each Question Time with trepidation. Apparently, that is the way it should…