Debate contribution: Agriculture Bill: Second Stage

Debate contribution by Mr Declan McAleer on 3 December 2024.

MLA

Mr Declan McAleer

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

3 December 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Executive Committee Business

Heading

Agriculture Bill: Second Stage

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4690896

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I welcome the opportunity to speak today on the Second Stage of the Agriculture Bill. According to the Department, the Bill reflects the need to update legacy EU schemes, such as the fruit and vegetables aid scheme and agri-food promotion schemes, in the context of the post-Brexit reality. Whilst the Executive have offered their support for the Bill, it should be pointed out that it presents challenges as well as opportunities for rural communities. The Bill marks a fundamental shift from mandatory funding to discretionary funding for the fruit and vegetables aid scheme. Whilst it may provide the Department with greater flexibility in managing spending, it also raises concerns about the impact on the horticultural sector and our rural economy, particularly given the divergence from the South, where mandatory funding remains in place because it remains in the EU common agricultural policy. Stakeholders have rightly voiced concerns, during consultations and when my party met them. They noted that this disparity between North and South risks undermining the competitiveness of producers in the North, who are on an unequal footing compared with their counterparts in the South, who still benefit from the robust EU schemes.

The Agriculture Bill introduces key provisions to modify schemes such as the fruit and vegetables aid scheme, including by granting DAERA discretionary funding powers, enabling more flexible allocation of resources, providing enabling powers to amend schemes in line with evolving local policy needs and ensuring that a legislative framework is in place from 2026 to 2028, allowing producer organisations to plan their operational programmes effectively. We in Sinn Féin acknowledge the necessity of reform, but we remain concerned by the Bill's scope. The proposal is, again by virtue of Brexit, less progressive than the EU's revamped common agricultural policy that benefits producers in the South by funding environmental initiatives, research and development and long-term plans. We believe that the North should align more closely with those forward-thinking policies to ensure fairness, sustainability and competitiveness for our primary producers. The post-Brexit context demands comprehensive, strategic action to fill the void that has been left in agricultural policy. We call for policies that promote equity across the island, ensuring that our producers have access to fair opportunities, robust funding mechanisms and the resources needed to thrive in an increasingly competitive market. As representatives of rural communities, it is our duty to scrutinise the Bill thoroughly — we look forward to doing that during Committee Stage and remaining stages — and to advocate policies that deliver real change. Let us ensure that the legislation provides the necessary support for our farmers and rural businesses, paving the way for a fairer, more prosperous agriculture sector. I look forward to further deliberations and to working with all stakeholders to ensure that the final legislation truly reflects the needs and ambitions of our rural communities.

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

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:42 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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