Debate contribution: Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Spring Supplementary Estimates 2023-24 and Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Estimates: Vote On Account 2024-25

Debate contribution by Mr John Blair on 9 April 2024.

MLA

Mr John Blair

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

9 April 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Executive Committee Business

Heading

Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Spring Supplementary Estimates 2023-24 and Supply Resolution for the Northern Ireland Estimates: Vote On Account 2024-25

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4482179

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am speaking as Alliance spokesperson for agriculture, environment and rural affairs, and I will talk about how the Supply Estimates and draft spending proposals impact on pollution remedies, climate obligations and a number of other DAERA responsibilities.

There is no doubt that the absence of a Government for the past two years impacted on how our Departments are being funded. That includes the scrutiny of figures, which needs to be improved. It has resulted in a need for transformation in the work of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in particular. The Department oversees one of our largest carbon emitters, but it also has ample opportunities to deliver on our climate change targets. A truly just transition requires funding of those opportunities. I hope that the Minister can reflect on that when she speaks later. In order to achieve that delivery, the Department must be in a position to formalise the many overdue policies and strategies that remained stagnated alongside the Assembly's collapse. Those include the biodiversity strategy, the marine strategy, the peatland strategy and the clean air strategy. It is also, quite frankly, disgraceful that, in 2024, according to the most recent RSPB 'State of Nature' report, 12% of our species are being threatened with extinction and the area of certified woodland has continued to decrease despite increasing in England. In addition, around half our protected areas are in unfavourable conditions. That situation demands investment. Northern Ireland has many natural assets, but if we continue that trend, we will cause lasting damage. There are many opportunities for restoration and recovery. The Department must seize on those immediately, but it can do that only if it is properly funded. That is not to mention how the Department has been working on reduced budgets for animal welfare, including welfare in veterinary services. Those areas must, instead, be increased and improved upon. That is also true of the rural affairs aspect of the Department, which brings its own demands on connectivity, rural isolation, access to services and addressing the urban/rural divide. Separate from all those statutory commitments, the Department is well placed to engage with the community and maximise opportunities for the public to avail themselves of the facilities in forests and fisheries in order to help those who wish to be outdoors and active, assist in healthy lifestyles, appreciate nature and, whilst doing that, reach some of the most disadvantaged and isolated members of our community. It would be a shame if such outreach were ever seen as low-hanging fruit when it comes to budgetary pressures and budget cuts. Those budgetary pressures must be addressed in the context of the motions. In short, the required processes brought by Brexit, the environmental challenges that I outlined, change in support mechanisms for our agriculture sector, those climate action commitments and the required resource for all those means that DAERA funding must be protected and awarded in a more meaningful and targeted way. Ring-fenced funding is required for climate, environmental protection and governance, which would include, for example, Lough Neagh, an environmental improvement plan and animal welfare. It hardly needs saying that rectifying the problems at Lough Neagh will come at a considerable price. I want to put on record my thanks, however, to the AERA Minister for his work in his new role to date, particularly in his commitment to tackling the Lough Neagh blue-green algae issue and broader issues surrounding water quality in Northern Ireland. That is something that I highlighted in detail in my Member's statement this morning. I will continue, with others, to work closely with the Minister and alongside Committee colleagues to achieve the necessary positive outcomes, hopefully delivered through appropriate funding streams. I wish to reiterate the importance of cross-departmental collaboration in achieving the change necessary for our communities as well as our planet. Such contributions across Departments are vital to ensure that initiatives are future-proofed and receive sustainable funding. Ultimately, the current momentum within the sectors governed by DAERA must be sustained and built upon to achieve a greener and cleaner future for us all.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 09:57 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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