Debate contribution: Farming Community: Ministerial Confidence
Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on .
- MLA
- Mr Andrew Muir
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 28 September 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Farming Community: Ministerial Confidence
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5762342
Read the official Assembly record
Text
The Member will know well that that is not what I said, but why let facts get in the way of a good story? The reality is that I have massive respect for the overwhelming majority of farmers in Northern Ireland. They are the custodians of our countryside who do a fantastic job. What I said at the Committee, which you and your party would do well to recognise, is that the abuse and the comments on social media — misogynistic abuse against officials in my Department, sectarian abuse against officials in my Department and homophobic abuse against me — was wrong.
I said that it was wrong that people were making such comments. In addition, there were six death threats against me and an assault. If you cannot fathom a way to condemn that and not play politics with it, I despair. This place needs to be better than that. People look to this place for leadership on the issues that matter rather than to see Members driving a wedge between us on issues and distracting people from the job at hand.
183 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Awaiting analysis
This record has not been analysed yet. It is not counted in any total until it has been assessed.
Disagree with this assessment?
Classifications can be challenged. A person reviews every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.