Debate contribution: Bovine Tuberculosis: Wildlife Interventions
Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on .
- MLA
- Mr Andrew Muir
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 15 June 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Bovine Tuberculosis: Wildlife Interventions
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5613557
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Significant action is already being taken on that. We have increased the level of testing, and we will go out to procurement on biosecurity advice to farmers. We are doing that in partnership with people, and that is why it is important that we have the stakeholder group. We will consult on wildlife interventions, and we want people to respond to that consultation. I want people to be assured that there are interventions on the three pillars of people, cattle and wildlife. I recognise the cost to farmers, not just the financial cost, which the report from the Ulster Farmers' Union set out in a very stark manner, but the mental health cost resulting from the breakdown of herds. There is also an issue with my Department's budget. However, fundamentally, I am on the side of the farming community, and I recognise the challenges. The issues are complex, but we are determined to push forward and implement the blueprint.
159 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.03 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.73).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.03 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.73 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.03 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-related subject | 0.81 |
| Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits | 0.18 |
| Another identity-related subject | 0.01 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:48 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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