Debate contribution: Agriculture Bill: Consideration Stage

Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on 9 June 2025.

MLA

Mr Andrew Muir

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

9 June 2025

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Question for Urgent Oral Answer

Heading

Agriculture Bill: Consideration Stage

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4997826

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you very much, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. Clause 2 provides the power for the Department to modify the assimilated law governing fruit and vegetable aid. Members will be aware that that legislation has not kept pace with changes elsewhere, including in the EU — changes that seek to support productivity while also contributing to protecting and enhancing our environment and tackling climate change. Those powers will therefore allow for improvements to the scheme in future, including to align with development elsewhere if deemed appropriate. During its scrutiny, the Committee raised concerns that, by virtue of clause 5, such modification could include repeal and revocation. Those powers would provide for repeal of primary legislation and revocation of secondary legislation in whole. Those powers provide for the omission of parts of existing legislation that are necessary, for example, to remove redundant, unworkable or simply unhelpful provisions. Some Members may wonder about taking such powers in advance of completion of policy reviews. However, awaiting the outcome of reviews or other matters that call for changes to policy, and then having to seek those powers, would simply delay the point at which policy changes can be made. Importantly, by virtue of clause 4, the use of those powers would be subject to Assembly approval, which is an appropriate control. Finally, that clause also includes an enabling power to make regulations regarding the review of departmental decisions relating to fruit and veg aid, which is needed as a consequence of amendments to the common market organisation regulation. Members are asked to support clause 2. It is important that I address the Member's concerns about the mushroom industry. I am aware that those concerns have been articulated during the passage of the Bill, including in the Committee's scrutiny at Committee Stage. I am acutely aware of the challenges that the mushroom industry faces, especially the labour force challenges that have arisen from the UK Government's decision on migration as a consequence of our leaving the EU. Recently, I welcomed the Northern Ireland Office Minister down to one of the suppliers near Mayobridge. We articulated to her the concerns that exist. I wrote to Fleur Anderson in the Northern Ireland Office off the back of that visit, outlining my concerns on the migration rules and the need for further UK Government support for automation, because that is expensive technology that would be an important intervention. I still await a reply to that correspondence. I will continue to engage with the UK Government on the labour force challenges that face the mushroom industry. I would also like to provide reassurance that I am conscious of the need for continued support for the mushroom industry. My Department and I will continue to engage with the industry to ensure that we are able to meet that wherever we can in the scheme of new policy formation.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:47 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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