Debate contribution: Avian Influenza
Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on .
- MLA
- Mr Andrew Muir
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 17 February 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Question for Urgent Oral Answer
- Heading
- Avian Influenza
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4802931
Read the official Assembly record
Text
An investigation was instigated on Friday 14 February at premises near Dungannon, County Tyrone, after a number of mortalities in a commercial poultry flock. Preliminary results have indicated the presence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, H5N1. The unit is a family run farm, so my thoughts are with the family concerned at this time. Temporary disease control zones have been imposed around the premises to limit the spread of disease. The movement of poultry and captive birds, carcasses, eggs, used poultry litter and manure is restricted and licenses are required for them to be moved into or out of the zones. My Department is taking swift action to prevent further incursions by progressing the necessary measures following the establishment of control zones, including licensing requirements and surveillance activities. The humane culling of the birds is also under way at the premises. I thank all the officials who have been involved in the response to date. I decided to introduce an avian influenza prevention zone across Northern Ireland from Saturday 18 January. The avian influenza prevention zone includes mandatory stringent biosecurity measures. The avian influenza prevention zone will remain in place until the risk reduces. I also introduced a housing order, which came into force today, as part of the current avian influenza prevention zone. That decision aligned with the introduction of a housing order in the Republic of Ireland. Earlier, the president of the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) commented that the housing order that is now in place is the right choice. In addition, a ban on gatherings of poultry has been introduced in conjunction with the housing order. DAERA officials met with key industry stakeholders over the weekend and will continue to liaise closely with them, and colleagues in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, as the situation develops. The need for continuous excellent biosecurity to prevent further incursions will continue to be highlighted by my Department as a crucial way of protecting the national flock.
329 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.02 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.02 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.01 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.44 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.02 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-related subject | 1.00 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.00 |
| Sport (including the GAA), the arts and cultural bodies | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:01 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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