Debate contribution: Farming Community: DAERA Engagement

Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on 7 September 2026.

MLA: Mr Andrew Muir
Party at the time: Alliance Party
Date: 7 September 2026
Type: Debate contribution (made as a minister)
Business: Oral Answers to Questions
Heading: Farming Community: DAERA Engagement
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5669948

Text

I can give the Member that assurance. It is important that we look at all issues that relate to that operation. As the Member knows, and as many people know but fail to recognise publicly, the operation at Fivemiletown was neither authorised nor directed by me. I ordered an independent external review of that operation. I am committed to full transparency, particularly in the review's findings and recommendations. If mistakes have been made by my officials, those mistakes must be identified and lessons learned. Fundamentally, however, an awful lot of what has been happening over the past couple of weeks has not been to do with the situation in Fivemiletown. Rather, the fact is that some people have not wanted me to be in this position since the day and hour that I took it up. That is because I believe in the environment and in climate action.

148 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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