Debate contribution: Avian Flu
Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on .
- MLA
- Mr Andrew Muir
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 13 May 2024
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Avian Flu
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4488998
Read the official Assembly record
Text
As I outlined, I do not have direction and control over that area. I have outlined my views on the need to rectify that. We have full information in relation to this on our website, and the latest update on 7 February 2024 states:
"Avian influenza is a highly contagious disease, caused by an influenza type A virus, which affects a wide range of birds. Primary introduction of the virus is normally considered to be through wild bird contact while secondary outbreaks are normally associated with fomite spread of infected material. With highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), clinical signs of the infection are normally expressed through the observation of high mortalities although other signs may also be observed. In January 2024, it is considered that the likelihood of a notifiable avian influenza incursion into poultry during the winter is MEDIUM as winter migrants are continuing to arrive from areas with known HPAI cases and environmental conditions are favourable for virus survival. The level of uncertainty is considered HIGH due to uncertainty around the timing of migration, the unknown immune status of resident wild birds and increasing frequency of drift in the N1. The impact of an incursion of notifiable HPAI to the poultry industry would be MODERATE. Overall, the risk of notifiable HPAI incursion into the NI poultry flock is MODERATE with HIGH uncertainty with biosecurity playing a key role in the risk posed to each individual flock."
I am not satisfied with the content of the answer that I am giving, but that is because it does not fall under my direction and control.
265 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: 0.02 (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).
- 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 | 0.02 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.01 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.35 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.02 | 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 | 1.00 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.00 |
| Sport (including the GAA), the arts and cultural bodies | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 10:27 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
Disagree with this assessment?
Classifications can be challenged. A person reads every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.