Debate contribution: Veterinary Medicines
Debate contribution by Mr William Irwin on .
- MLA
- Mr William Irwin
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 21 May 2024
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Private Members' Business
- Heading
- Veterinary Medicines
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4491527
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of the amendment. The amendment seeks to put further meat on the bone on the action by those in the British Government who have direct responsibility for resolving the issue and, in the longer term, preventing the uncertainty that continually manifests itself in this important matter. The current arrangements amount to a grace period and will exist until 2025. It is vital that, within the available time frame, all opportunities are grasped to find a durable solution to the issue. The prospect of Northern Ireland losing access to vital veterinary medicines that are in Great Britain would have a huge and detrimental impact on our agriculture industry, with many negative knock-on impacts on animal health, disease control and animal welfare. The DUP, in its negotiations with the Government, prioritised the threat to the supply of veterinary medicines. The 'Safeguarding the Union' Command Paper included the commitment by the British Government to establish a veterinary medicines working group, whose task it is to study, report and advise the Government on solutions to effectively address the issue. As a lifelong farmer, I know all too well about the importance of access to high-quality veterinary medicines. It is, literally, a lifeline for sick animals. Farmers only want to do the best that they can for their animals, given the importance of animals and their livestock to their farm businesses. Work that the House of Lords Windsor Framework Sub-Committee inquiry has undertaken to date estimates that around 35% of medicines that are currently available would be at risk. That includes important medicines such as the botulism vaccine. The potential scenario where such medicine would be unavailable is not an outcome that our industry can tolerate, and there is a real sense that the British Government need to fix it. The 'Safeguarding the Union' Command Paper explicitly recognises the importance of the continued supply of veterinary medicines. The document refers specifically to the fact that a grace period is in place. The Government are committed to a long-term solution that guarantees the free flow of trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The amendment seeks to reiterate the commitment to action as issued by the British Government to urgently find a durable solution to the matter, whilst, of course, space will be given to find a long-term agreement with the EU on the supply of medicines. It is also worth highlighting that the Government are on record stating that they will shortly set out plans to introduce legislation in order to avoid new regulatory divergence between Great Britain and Northern Ireland on veterinary medicines. Now is the time to see those —.
I will, yes.
We have been assured by the British Government that that will happen in the next few months. I am not going to give you an exact time frame, but I am assured that it will happen before the autumn. The can cannot be kicked down the road on the issue indefinitely. I sense a prioritising of the issue. The various advisory groups and officials who have been tasked to work on the issue should redouble their efforts to ensure that the solution that is arrived at is robust and meets the needs of our industry in Northern Ireland. The motion and amendment seek to consolidate the message that progress must be made swiftly by the UK and the EU in the window of time that is available in order to provide certainty for our agri-food industry. Veterinary practices and suppliers must be replaced by a durable solution. That is a message that all parties can get behind. I trust that that will be the case in the House today.
617 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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