Debate contribution: Areas with Natural Constraints (Payments) Bill: Second Stage

Debate contribution by Ms Aoife Finnegan on 23 March 2026.

MLA

Ms Aoife Finnegan

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

23 March 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Areas with Natural Constraints (Payments) Bill: Second Stage

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5465721

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I welcome the Bill. It is a practical step forward to support farmers in our most disadvantaged areas. It is about recognising the reality for farmers in areas with natural constraints and making sure that the support reflects that reality. In my constituency of Newry and Armagh and other constituencies, we see many farmers working land that is more difficult to manage — it is higher, wetter and less productive — and that is not something that they can change. I have seen and heard that many times from local farmers who are disadvantaged by something that is totally out of their control. That is exactly why ANC support is so important and, in truth, why it should never have been taken away in the first place. Those farmers are dealing with low productivity, higher input costs and tougher conditions, again all outside their control. It is about fairness and equality. It is about recognising that and backing those farmers properly. The Bill also recognises the positive role that such farmers already play. We talk about the future of farming, sustainability and biodiversity, but a lot of that is already happening in those areas. Those are low-intensity systems, with lower stocking densities, often in protected landscapes, and they are working within environmental constraints. In many ways, we want to see more of that kind of farming. It is important to say clearly that the Bill is not about choosing between farming and the environment; it is about supporting farmers who are already delivering for both. We have seen that clearly in the role that upland farmers play in managing vegetation and reducing wildfire risks. When I raised that with the Minister two weeks ago, he acknowledged the role and described it as "fantastic", and he was right to do so. Without active management and grazing, land becomes overgrown, unmanaged and more vulnerable. We discussed that matter not long ago in the Chamber, and we have seen the consequences of that.

Supporting those farmers is not just about individual farm incomes. It strengthens our wider approach to environmental protection and land management, but it is also about the bigger picture. A significant proportion of our beef and sheep production starts in those areas. That is not separate from the rest of agriculture; it feeds into it. What happens in ANCs matters across the sector. We should not fall into the trap of setting one group of farmers against another. The reality is that it is all connected. Some in the House have suggested that the support is not needed, but I do not accept that. Those farmers are starting with a clear disadvantage. Without targeted support, there is a real risk of decline not just for individual farmers but for rural communities, our landscape and the wider food systems. This is nothing new. Support like this existed before and exists elsewhere. It is a recognised and established approach. Importantly, there have been no fundamental objections to the principle of supporting farmers in those areas, and that is what today is about. The passing of the Bill at Second Stage will allow it to move forward so that we can work through the detail and make sure that it is deliverable. We know that it is not about settling every issue today; that comes later. If, however, we do not allow the Bill to progress now, that opportunity will be gone. It really comes down to a few simple questions. Do we recognise the role that those farmers play? Do we want to support them to continue to do that? Do we want to protect rural communities and our landscape? Are we prepared to move this forward so that it can be properly scrutinised and strengthened? For me, the answer to all of those questions is yes.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:07 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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