Debate contribution: Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Debate contribution by Mr Gareth Wilson on 6 October 2026.

MLA: Mr Gareth Wilson
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 6 October 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5776718

Text

Yes, I will get back to the debate. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion of no confidence that was tabled by my party, and I thank everybody who signed it. I am the only MLA for Newry and Armagh who signed it. I take that to mean that I am the only person listening to the farming community in what is a considerably rural constituency.
The decision of the Ulster Farmers’ Union to include Minister Muir in its vote of no confidence was a seismic and unprecedented moment. It symbolised the complete breakdown of trust between Northern Ireland's agriculture community and the Department, led by the Alliance Party, which has gone AWOL today. The body that represents the collective voice of the farming community clearly signalled its discontent. I agree with the Ulster Farmers’ Union in that regard. How did we get here? When appointed, the Minister promised to do things differently, and he certainly kept that promise. He has done things differently today by walking out of the Chamber. He has also done things differently by uniting such a broad swathe of people against him. Time does not permit me to cover every failure, so I will focus on a few of the most glaring examples. The initial roll-out of the NAP proposals united the farming community in anger in a way that I have rarely witnessed during my time in public life. Then, there is the TB situation. Herds continue to be devastated while taxpayers continue to foot a growing compensation bill. Even after securing an additional £4 million for the regional pilot, the Minister has little to show for it in either scope or delivery. What other Minister could receive £4 million yet fail to accelerate progress? My colleague Minister Lyons is in the Chamber. When he gets £4 million, he spends it for the benefit of the community. I have left the worst to last: the farce at Fivemiletown, where 51 cattle were shot dead in a botched operation that left the public disgusted and the Department's reputation in tatters. Surprisingly, it was done in the name of animal welfare. Just as hapless as the events on the ground was the tone-deaf nature of the Minister's response. As a member of the AERA Committee, I was stunned by the lack of transparency and accountability and the complete failure to accept that the Department had done anything wrong. Simply brushing off legitimate questions by saying that the review will cover this, that or the other did not inspire confidence. I cut short my family break to join the Committee meeting, but key staff did not do so. They did not show up. I felt that there was a complete over-reliance by the Minister on his officials to his left and right. He often looked at them for support and answers. I do not feel that the Minister adequately responded to the level of anger that existed in Northern Ireland's rural community and, indeed, that pushed into Northern Ireland's urban communities, where animal welfare concerns are perhaps felt most keenly. With a cover story that had as many holes as a sinking ship, the cattle cull controversy was the straw that broke the camel's back for our farming community. That has been demonstrated by the strength of subsequent protests. That issue has not gone away. The depth of feeling has not gone away, and, just because the House may choose to debate other issues, it does not mean that the issue does not matter to those with a keen interest in our agriculture community as much as it did when the event took place. I assure the Minister that it is not just so-called TikTokers who have lost patience, and some in the Alliance Party are the greatest TikTokers to ever walk the earth. I will put that on the record. I have been contacted by many constituents from all community backgrounds who are appalled by the events of recent months. That makes it even more shameful that not one nationalist representative has signed the motion. Once again, the DUP is left to be the voice for many right-thinking people in nationalist communities. Perhaps that says more about the Alliance Party's relationship with nationalism and republicanism than with anyone else. Confidence is the operative word, and Minister Muir has completely lost the confidence —
— of the agriculture community.

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

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