Debate contribution: Direct Payments to Farmers (Cross-Compliance) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024: Prayer of Annulment

Debate contribution by Mr Eóin Tennyson on 4 February 2025.

MLA

Mr Eóin Tennyson

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

4 February 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Committee Business

Heading

Direct Payments to Farmers (Cross-Compliance) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024: Prayer of Annulment

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4779163

Read the official Assembly record

Text

In an uncharacteristic gesture, I give some credit to the DUP for consistency, because the DUP has been honest about its environmental credentials. It opposed the Climate Change Act, and it consistently stands up against environmental and climate action. However, what we have heard from other parties in the Chamber today has been a lesson in rank hypocrisy. We need not have been surprised by that. The Ulster Unionist Party, despite talking about the environment, joined the DUP in railing against the Climate Change Act; Sinn Féin was the architect of the Going for Growth strategy, which walked us to the position that we are in with Lough Neagh; and the SDLP delivered sand dredging in the bed of Lough Neagh.

No, we have heard enough from the Member. Thank you, but I want to respond to some of the points that were raised. What we have heard today is shameful. The hypocrisy and inertia on the issues affecting our environment are eroding trust in these institutions. Just over a year ago, party leaders were out on boats, talking about the ecological crisis and its impact on water quality. They complained about their constituents having to drink mouldy water, yet today, when we have an opportunity to do the bare minimum through legislation, their parties fall at the first hurdle. I agree with Mr McGlone that cross-compliance penalties alone will not solve the crisis in Lough Neagh. He is right, but they are a starting point whilst we do a wider review of fines and penalties. The Opposition often talk about the fact that they want to see —

No, I will not. Mr McGlone always talks about the need to see legislation being debated on the Floor of the Assembly, but, when it comes, his party prays against it. Non-binding motions in Belfast City Council are one thing, but it is this Chamber that makes legislation. We need to hear some consistency from parties in their approach to these issues. Mr Butler raised a very important example of a one-off breach that resulted in a cross-compliance penalty. That case would be unaffected by the provisions in the SR. It is about repeated negligent breaches. It also does not follow that every breach will carry a severe fine, but the SR gives the Department the ability to look at the severity of the breach and apply a fine appropriately. What we have heard today is absolutely outrageous, but I pay tribute to the farmers who comply with regulations, because the vast majority of them are good custodians of our environment. It is a shame that Members seem to be more on the side of polluters and those who breach the rules than those farmers who comply with regulations day in, day out, as they go about their work. I ask Members to reflect on the promises that they made to their constituents and on their public pronouncements about the need for action to tackle water quality issues in Lough Neagh and to put their money where their mouths are by stepping up, acting and supporting a Minister who, for once, can be trusted to protect our environment, rather than doing what the SDLP and Sinn Féin have done today —

— in aligning themselves with the Poots penalties.

With respect, Principal Deputy Speaker, I will speak to the prayer of annulment, but it is about regulations that pertain to water quality and agricultural standards, and those issues are relevant.

Thank you, Principal Deputy Speaker. The SR is the least that we can do. I appeal to all parties to reflect on their supposed environmental credentials, step up and take the action that is necessary. It is not the ceiling of our ambition, but it is a starting point. When we make promises to our electorate, we ought to honour them in the Chamber.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:51 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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