Debate contribution: Bluetongue Virus: Bangor

Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on 1 December 2025.

MLA

Mr Andrew Muir

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

1 December 2025

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Ministerial Statements

Heading

Bluetongue Virus: Bangor

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5269324

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Stephen. I am aware of the impact of the restrictions, which you outlined. There is the capacity for direct export to slaughter. A form is needed for that, and it is available on the DAERA website. The focus now has to be on vigilance. We in the Department are working on increased testing so that we can follow through on our framework in response to the situation, and then we can move out of the control zone. That is where our focus is at the moment. Let us hope that we are not in this situation for an extended period. That will rely on us all working together. I know the impact that this will have on the farming community. In order for us to best serve the farming community in Northern Ireland and ensure the ongoing success of our agri-food industry, we must be compliant with the regulations. It is absolutely key that we do that. The Department is supporting farmers through the work of the veterinary service. Additional information is on the DAERA website. Together, we will get through this over the time ahead.

Thank you, Connie. There is a map on the DAERA website detailing the temporary control zone. I encourage Members to view it and to make their constituents aware of it. It is a 20-kilometre control zone from a holding near the Bangor area. Those who view the map will see that it extends beyond County Down. For example, it goes into east Antrim and the Belfast area. It is important that people acquaint themselves with it. The Department is making contact with farmers in the area by email and text. The rules associated with this situation are pretty simple: there are no permitted moves except for those direct to slaughter. A form is available from the DAERA website that can be downloaded and brought to the abattoir when that slaughter is about to be undertaken. It is important that people are aware of the reasons for that. They are about being able to manage any potential spread of the virus, and that is a key part of our disease control framework in Northern Ireland.

Further samples have been sent to UK and EU laboratories, so work will be undertaken on those. In addition, we have increased the amount of surveillance in our local abattoirs. We have set out traps for midges, which we will test. Extra blood samples are being taken not just from the herd in which the animals were detected but from the broader area. We are stepping up that surveillance. We are also asking for increased vigilance and for farmers, if they see anything of concern, to report it to us immediately. If there are any sick animals, they should isolate them immediately.

There are already restrictions on movements from GB to NI. Since I took up office in February of last year, there has been a request for us to ease those. I am not doing that, because I am aware of the risk to our agri-food sector in Northern Ireland. We have a risk-based approach to everything that we do. Movements into Northern Ireland are very limited and are even further limited within the temporary control zone. It is important that we comply with the restrictions. We will monitor the situation in the time ahead. We are coming towards the end of the vector-borne season — hopefully, the colder weather will help us — but that does not rule out further infection. That is why it is important that we abide by the restrictions put in place on Saturday evening.

Thank you, Diana. That is a really important message. We trade on the basis of people's confidence in our agri-food industry. Bluetongue does not affect humans, so there are no human or public health implications. There is no risk of the disease being contracted or spread through meat or milk. Let me be very clear on that.

Thank you, Patsy. That does not come into the decision-making because no moves to Great Britain can occur until the conditions for those moves are agreed with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and other UK authorities. My officials are in discussion with colleagues in Great Britain to enable those moves to restart as soon as possible. Potential exporters and private veterinary practitioners are encouraged to watch for further guidance from DAERA. That guidance may change as the situation develops.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:03 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reads every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification