Debate contribution: Programme for Government 2024-27

Debate contribution by Ms Sian Mulholland on 3 March 2025.

MLA

Ms Sian Mulholland

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

3 March 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Executive Committee Business

Heading

Programme for Government 2024-27

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4826244

Read the official Assembly record

Text

It is with mixed feelings that I welcome the publication of the Programme for Government. It is bittersweet that we have had to wait this long for it, but I hope that it stands as a foundation for the delivery that the public deserve, especially if all Departments consider it a baseline and foundation from which to work rather than the ceiling of their ambition. I commend the clear commitments on decarbonisation, sustainable agriculture and the urgent need to restore and protect our natural environment. Those are essential pillars of our future, and I particularly recognise the work of Minister Muir, who is already leading the way in DAERA through his sustainable agriculture programme, which aims to bolster the agrisector's economic viability while addressing the key environmental challenges. As the PFG rightly highlights, Northern Ireland needs an economic transformation that embraces the opportunity for green growth. It is really important that we have seen that in the PFG. Crucially, we cannot achieve green growth without meaningful support for our agriculture sector, which is why the farming carbon scheme, the carbon footprinting project and the beef carbon reduction scheme are so important. They are practical tools that are designed to help farmers become and remain climate leaders while maintaining the production of high-quality and world-class food for local and global markets. It is another way in which to bust the myth that it has to be either farming or the environment, when, in fact, our farmers are so often the custodians of our countryside. I hope that the Minister can continue to support the farmers who see the protection and nurturing of our environment as such a massive part of their role. Ambition needs certainty, however, and that is why the ring fencing of the agriculture budget in Northern Ireland, unlike in other parts of the UK, that Minister Muir has secured is so vital. We need to see that sustained. Such a financial commitment can give farmers the stability that they need to plan, invest in and drive forward sustainable change when so many other factors impinge on their certainty. I welcome the recognition given to the economic importance of our agri-food and fisheries sectors. They do so much more than just contribute to the economy. Our farmers, fishers and food producers keep us going. They provide the food that we rely on, and they have built a reputation for quality of which Northern Ireland should be really proud. That value cannot be measured in pounds and pence; it is about people, place and pride. I am also pleased to see continued support for fisheries through the marine environment and fisheries fund, which will ensure that our coastal communities, none more so than those in my constituency, have the resources that they need to adapt and thrive in the face of climate and economic change. We cannot talk about environmental and agriculture challenges without mentioning Lough Neagh. The unprecedented crisis that we have seen at the lough in the past two years shone an international spotlight on Northern Ireland, sadly for the wrong reasons. It was and remains one of the most significant environmental disasters that we have faced in a generation. I welcome the Executive's eventual commitment to delivering the Lough Neagh action plan, but delivery must mean action and accountability. We need clear mechanisms in place to track and report progress on nutrient management, septic tank regulation and pollution enforcement. They go hand in hand.

Let us be honest, however: Lough Neagh is not just a DAERA issue; it is a public health emergency, an economic risk and an environmental catastrophe all rolled into one. Lough Neagh affects our drinking water, tourism, agriculture and infrastructure, meaning that the response simply cannot sit solely with one Department. It needs joined-up, cross-departmental action from Infrastructure, Economy, Health and beyond. We must build real partnerships with communities, farmers, environmental groups and councils around the lough. Let us be clear: this is not about blame. It is about creating the conditions for everyone to work together to restore the lough and protect it for future generations. Whilst there is so much to welcome in the PFG, I, as the Alliance Party's poverty and social security spokesperson, cannot avoid expressing disappointment at the way in which it handles poverty. It is welcome that the Programme for Government gives greater attention to poverty, but it is deeply regrettable that the Executive have not made it a central driving priority. Poverty permeates every vein of government: health, education, housing, employment, our children's futures and families' ability to heat their homes or put food on the table. Every Department, every policy and every Budget decision should be seen through the lens of this question: does this lift people out of poverty or risk pushing them further into it? The Programme for Government rightly acknowledges the need for a cross-departmental approach, but, without naming poverty as a core priority, we risk seeing it slip into the background once again. For too long, Northern Ireland has relied on temporary mitigations rather than tackling the structural causes of poverty head-on. The Programme for Government was a real opportunity to embed anti-poverty action at the very heart of government, but, sadly, that opportunity has not been fully seized. As the chair of the all-party group on arts, I need to express a bit of disappointment about the lack of meaningful attention given to the arts and cultural sector in the Programme for Government — there is no mention of it at all. The passing reference to a "Culture Strategy" feels like lip service and a bit of an afterthought, rather than the recognition that our amazing creative industries so rightly deserve. The arts sector is not just an add-on to our economy; it enriches lives, supports mental health, drives tourism, creates jobs and helps us to tell our story to the entire world. The arts sector in Northern Ireland punches well above its weight, as we have seen at recent awards ceremonies. I wish that the Executive had put their weight behind the arts sector. That is a bit of a missed opportunity. While I welcome the Programme for Government, particularly the work led by my colleagues Minister Muir and Minister Long, I have to stress that poverty and the arts should not be seen as side issues. Hopefully, however, the Programme for Government sets out a greener, more sustainable future. I hope that the Assembly and the Executive can go further and work together to ensure that the future is not only green but inclusive and culturally rich for everyone in Northern Ireland.

1,104 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:07 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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