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.
1,670 records match, page 44 of 67.
I am happy to write to the Member once we have done the review of records.
Not analysed
Assessment details for Debate contribution: DAERA: Employee Disputes Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: DAERA: Employee Disputes
Thank you, Patsy. My Department takes all litigation claims seriously and complies with the 'Managing Public Money' guidance from the Department of Finance. The amount spent by DAERA on all special payments, which includes litigation cases, is published annually in the Department's report and accounts. Central…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: DAERA: Employee Disputes Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: DAERA: Employee Disputes
We are aware of the issues with water quality and the sources around that: agriculture, waste water and septic tanks. I tasked officials to review what is known as "SORPI", the statement of regulatory principles and intent. Essentially, it is a separate regulatory regime for NI Water whereby the historic…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Blue-green Algae: Lough Neagh Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Blue-green Algae: Lough Neagh
The very constrained funding that is available to the Executive and the agreed draft Budget for 2025-26 provide a very difficult proposed outcome for my Department. I am working with my officials on how much resource and capital departmental expenditure limit (DEL) funding can be allocated to Lough Neagh to continue…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Blue-green Algae: Lough Neagh Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Blue-green Algae: Lough Neagh
I heard the anger about the UK Government's decision on inheritance tax when I was at the Oxford Farming Conference last week. From that platform, I outlined my opposition to it again. I look forward to meeting the Ulster Farmers’ Union, the Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers Association (NIAPA) and the Finance…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Just Transition Commission Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Just Transition Commission
A public consultation on the establishment of the just transition commission was launched on 11 November 2024. It has been extended to 17 January 2025. I encourage people to make any responses to it that they feel are necessary. The consultation focuses on the proposals to establish the commission, including the…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Just Transition Commission Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Just Transition Commission
I do not have those statistics to hand, but my Department supports councils on the issue. In addition to overseeing the robust legislation that covers the fixed penalty notices that councils issue for dog-fouling offences, my Department is committed to reducing and preventing them. DAERA supports educational and…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Dog Fouling Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Dog Fouling
My Department does not provide financial support to councils to address dog fouling. It is, however, responsible for the legislation that grants councils the powers and the flexibility, subject to upper and lower limits, to set fixed penalty notices for dog-fouling offences. In December 2022, following requests from…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Dog Fouling Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Dog Fouling
We are finalising our plans. Before Christmas, I had really good engagement with relevant animal welfare stakeholders. That engagement took place not just in Clare House but with the all-party group on animal welfare, which my colleague to my left, John Blair, ably chairs. We were able to discuss some of the measures…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Animal Welfare Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Animal Welfare
It is for each council to provide its services. Councils have the ability to raise revenue through rates. I understand the financial pressures that each council faces. My Department faces similar pressures, particularly in light of the draft Budget settlement for next year. We can, however, work together, particularly…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Animal Welfare Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Animal Welfare
I thank the Member for her supplementary question. As I said, I am meeting the councils this week. It is important that we collaborate on the issue. An outcome from the Member's question is that we encourage people to report concerns about animal welfare to their council, because it is important that issues be…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Animal Welfare Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Animal Welfare
The enforcement of non-farmed animal welfare remains the statutory responsibility of each council. Councils are best placed to determine how that function should be discharged and the level of resource that is required to meet the specific requirements of their regions. My Department has no remit to dictate how…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Animal Welfare Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Animal Welfare
I am firmly committed to a just transition and I am taking action in that regard. That is why we are look to set up a just transition commission in Northern Ireland, which, perhaps, will be one of the first to be set up under statute. Beyond that, I was glad to be able to secure an agreement with the Finance Minister…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Climate Action Plan: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Climate Action Plan: Update
Thank you, Sinéad, for your question. In this place, we lost a lot of pace in taking action on climate change as a result of the collapse of the Assembly. We lost two years to that, and, before that, we lost years because of stop-go government. That is why we need to have reform of these institutions. Since taking up…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Climate Action Plan: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Climate Action Plan: Update
I thank the Member for his important question. That news is very concerning, but, sadly, it is not surprising. It is yet another example of a global tipping point. Climate change is expected to become more severe and more frequent as global warming increases, which will have real impacts on lives and livelihoods.…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Climate Action Plan: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Climate Action Plan: Update
The climate action plan will set out Northern Ireland’s approach to meeting the carbon budget for 2023-27. It will also establish a pathway towards the interim targets for 2030 and 2040 and the overall net zero by 2050 target. Ambitious policies and proposals will be required to put us on the path to net zero; our…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Climate Action Plan: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Climate Action Plan: Update
I am keen that we do that. I will visit Belfast city centre with the Lord Mayor and the Minister for Communities to look at dilapidation, because it is important that we have a joined-up approach. I have continued liaison with the Finance Minister. We all have different powers, but we can use them collectively to deal…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Dilapidation Bill: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Dilapidation Bill: Update
At the outset of my response, I declare that I am a member of the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society (UAHS). I have an appreciation of our built heritage and listed buildings. The responsibility sits primarily in the Department for Communities. One of the benefits of the enhancement of councils' powers is that,…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Dilapidation Bill: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Dilapidation Bill: Update
Dilapidation affects towns and cities. Once dilapidation develops in an area, it makes people less inclined to invest there. The legislation will give councils the power to tackle dilapidation in their areas, particularly in respect of financial bodies if the owner of a property cannot be found. The Bill will bring…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Dilapidation Bill: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Dilapidation Bill: Update
As soon as we get sign-off from the Departmental Solicitor's Office (DSO) and all the legal sign-offs, I will bring it to the Executive and then the Assembly. It has taken a bit longer than I anticipated, but I hope that the Bill will come here very soon so that we can scrutinise the legislation and see the benefits…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Dilapidation Bill: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Dilapidation Bill: Update
I shall seek Executive approval for the introduction of the dilapidation Bill once the process of confirming that the Bill is within the legislative competence of the Assembly is completed. The proposed Bill will provide councils with a modern and fit-for-purpose regime, including a clear toolkit of powers to tackle…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Dilapidation Bill: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Dilapidation Bill: Update
First, I record my thanks, especially to animal welfare stakeholders and to print and broadcast media, for the effort that they undertook last month to raise awareness of the pending deadline, which was demonstrated by the level of sign-up for the exemption process. I thank people for that. The deadline was set in…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: XL Bully Dogs: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: XL Bully Dogs: Update
On the issue in Lisburn and Castlereagh that the Member referenced, under the legislation, any dog considered to be a restricted breed and in council care can be returned to its owners only if the courts determine that it is suitable for exemption. Until there is confirmation of the dog's breed, which, as the Member…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: XL Bully Dogs: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: XL Bully Dogs: Update
The Member has been steadfast in raising the issue with me. I understand that that is due to safety concerns. The legislation that I brought in, which was secondary legislation, was what was available to me under primary legislation in Northern Ireland. I will keep it under review for the same reason as the Member…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: XL Bully Dogs: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: XL Bully Dogs: Update
XL bully legislation has already been implemented in England, Wales and Scotland. When I decided to introduce legislation in Northern Ireland, I did so in that context and to protect public safety. The legislation introduced here is broadly similar to the legislation introduced in the rest of the UK, although Northern…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: XL Bully Dogs: Update Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: XL Bully Dogs: Update
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