Debate contribution: Nutrients Action Programme 2026-29: Opposition

Debate contribution by Mr William Irwin on 10 June 2025.

MLA: Mr William Irwin
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 10 June 2025
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Nutrients Action Programme 2026-29: Opposition
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5001257

Text

First of all, I declare an interest as I am a partner in a farm business. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this very important issue in our agriculture community in Northern Ireland. The feeling amongst our farming community and the wider agri-food sector is illustrated by the joint letter recently signed by stakeholders. It is one of concern, frustration and mounting anger. The Minister must open his ears and eyes to the dissatisfaction that the NAP proposals have generated and withdraw the consultation. As our motion clearly says, that will allow time and space to chart a course towards an arrangement that recognises duties towards the environment and also the duty to nurture and promote our agri-food industry rather than decimate it with poorly thought-out policies. I know that the agri-food industry is very aware of its obligations to protect our environment. However, the sources of pollution impacting on our waterways are many, and any proposal requires a broader scope and recognition of those sources and practical solutions. The NAP proposals as tabled, if implemented, will do immeasurable harm to our industry, and that, in turn, will directly impact on the livelihoods of thousands of people and will severely limit and drastically impact on our capacity in food production. Farms will ultimately be decimated, and, again, thousands of jobs in our agri-food sector will go. The pressures facing farming at this time are considerable and varied, and the NAP proposals do not seek to lessen that burden in any shape or form. Rather than stay the ill-thought-out proposals, the Minister seems intent to further pile the pressure on our farming community, and that is simply not acceptable. This is not about ignoring our environmental responsibilities — far from it. Rather, it is about finding a sensible way forward that protects our countryside and supports the people who work very hard, day by day, to feed us. The Minister will, of course, be acutely aware of the depth of feeling on this issue and the fact that hundreds of people turned out to voice their opposition at Greenmount recently. They sent a clear message that farmers will not be ignored on this most important issue. I urge the Minister to take a long, hard look at his proposals, withdraw them and come back with proposals that will command the support of the agri-food industry in Northern Ireland. Producers cannot be laden with rules that will require millions of pounds to be spent to comply with. That will only result in catastrophic damage to one of Northern Ireland's leading economic performers. Progress will only be achieved when the Minister shows an understanding of our farming community, and I urge him to urgently act in the interests of the industry.

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

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