Debate contribution: The draft Farm Sustainability (Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025
Debate contribution by Miss Áine Murphy on .
- MLA
- Miss Áine Murphy
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 18 February 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Executive Committee Business
- Heading
- The draft Farm Sustainability (Transitional Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4806790
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate and, in particular, to highlight my party's concerns about the effect that the SR will have on young farmers and, indeed, on the regional reserve. No doubt, the Minister has listened to us wax lyrical about that over the past two or three weeks. A major issue is the uncertainty that surrounds the new entrants' scheme beyond 2025. The scheme has been vital for young farmers and those who are new to farming at a time when the industry faces significant generational renewal challenges. As it stands, there will be a gap in support without there being any clarity as to what exactly will replace the scheme. At the AERA Committee, Sinn Féin set out its concerns and requested that the Minister continue the young farmers' payment and the regional reserve until the Farming for the Generations scheme is introduced to address the gap. Our fear is that no new entitlements will be issued after that, meaning that, as existing entitlements expire for one reason or another, the total number of available entitlements will decline, driving up the price of entitlements and having an impact on younger farmers. The North will also be less competitive than the South of Ireland, where new farmers receive free entitlements and financial aid. We will reluctantly support the SR to ensure that there will be no delay in rolling out the basic payment scheme, the suckler scheme and the sustainable agriculture programme. I ask the Minister, in his winding-up speech, to elaborate on the remarks that he made in his opening statement on interventions that his Department could make to address the gap between land and entitlements.
282 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Awaiting analysis
This record has not been analysed yet. It is not counted in any total until it has been assessed.
Disagree with this assessment?
Classifications can be challenged. A person reviews every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.