Debate contribution: The Animals (Identification, Records, Movement and Enforcement) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025: Prayer of Annulment
Debate contribution by Mr John Blair on .
- MLA
- Mr John Blair
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 24 February 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Private Members' Business
- Heading
- The Animals (Identification, Records, Movement and Enforcement) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025: Prayer of Annulment
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4813512
Read the official Assembly record
Text
As a member of the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee and as Alliance spokesperson on these matters, I express my strong opposition to the prayer of annulment tabled by the DUP. The motion seeks to challenge vital measures that are necessary for the effective operation of the system of identification, registration and movement of cattle, sheep and goats. The measures that the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs aims to advance align our domestic legislation with the European Union's animal health law, which has already been referred to. It is worth pointing out that there have been challenges to achieving that due to the inaction of the previous Minister, Brexit and, of course, collapsed government, but, thankfully, it is now being pursued by the new AERA Minister. The provisions outlined in the statutory rule facilitate the Department's enforcement capabilities, enabling it to address non-compliance more effectively. That improvement means better livestock identification and movement monitoring, resulting in stronger deterrence of violations. Departmental officials made it clear to the Committee that the measures were necessary to ensure that frameworks were in place and that they were robust and without gaps in order to protect the excellent reputation of our agri-food products. Failing to advance those measures severely impacts on farm-to-fork traceability, which is essential for meeting consumer expectations in Northern Ireland and far beyond. It helps farmers to remain competitive while ensuring quality and building trust with consumers. Therefore, revoking the statutory rule risks weakening that robust livestock traceability system, jeopardising our agricultural integrity and valuable export opportunities. In addition to traceability and agricultural integrity benefits, advancing the measures has significant implications for food safety itself and for job security in the sector. Reinforcing regulations surrounding livestock identification and movement enhances the sector's ability to respond to potential health crises, reducing the risk of food-borne illnesses that can arise from a lack of transparency. Those are important matters, and there have been recent reminders of that. It not only protects public health but safeguards the livelihoods of those employed in the agri-food industry. A robust regulatory framework helps consumer confidence, as I have said, but it also directly translates into sustained demand for local products, ultimately preserving jobs in farming and related sectors and protecting our local economy. I also stress that the new regulations do not significantly change Northern Ireland's existing identification and movement processes. Instead, they provide much-needed certainty for the sector and ensure that we remain compliant with legislation that has already been recognised and accepted as necessary. The DUP's latest resistance, driven more by ideology than actual concerns regarding the proposed measures, sends the wrong message to our farmers and businesses. We cannot afford to have ideology hinder progress in our agri-food sector, progress that the DUP itself has repeatedly and loudly called for in the Chamber. I urge all Members to reflect on the broader implications of their actions today. We must adopt the measures to uphold our reputation for a robust and competitive agriculture sector that produces world-class, high-quality food products, while emphasising traceability and accountability as part of that. By doing so, we will safeguard public health and maintain the high standards that our agriculture sector is renowned for. I and my colleagues will, therefore, vote against the prayer of annulment and urge others to do likewise.
555 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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