Every imported question, contribution and motion, with its classification. Unflagged, uncertain and not-yet-analysed records are all included so the analysis can be checked independently.
The Minister is aware that labelling on various agricultural goods says, "Not for sale within the EU". Will the Minister take the opportunity, during his North/South talks, to suggest introducing labelling of goods in the Irish Republic that says, "Not for sale in the UK"? That would prevent Mercosur goods…
I thank the Member for raising the question. I regularly read the 'Irish Farmers Journal'. I read it every week, cover to cover. This has been raised as a concern by the Irish Farmers' Association. Whilst a free trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur was announced on 6 December 2024, it is likely to be some time…
Brexit has hampered an awful lot, particularly the growth of the UK economy, and we are all paying the consequences of that. I work through the issues. There is trade between GB and NI, and there are challenges associated with that, but my officials work through such issues. If there are particular concerns about our…
I thank the Minister for his answer. Tree planting is just one of many measures that can be employed to reduce the blue-green algae in Lough Neagh. Has the Minister experienced any difficulty in acquiring semi-mature trees in Northern Ireland? Has Brexit or the Windsor framework hampered the ability to bring…
There are two sides to that. The first is the work that Forest Service is taking forward. The small woodland grant scheme is open for applications, as far as I am aware, so there are current schemes. In the Lough Neagh report and action plan, we are looking at specific interventions, particularly the replanting of…
Thank you for that, Minister. If that is the case, I thank you for your intervention and welcome the fact that that information will be made readily available on the public record.
Thank you, Patsy. My Department takes all litigation claims seriously and complies with the 'Managing Public Money' guidance from the Department of Finance. The amount spent by DAERA on all special payments, which includes litigation cases, is published annually in the Department's report and accounts. Central…
We are aware of the issues with water quality and the sources around that: agriculture, waste water and septic tanks. I tasked officials to review what is known as "SORPI", the statement of regulatory principles and intent. Essentially, it is a separate regulatory regime for NI Water whereby the historic…
Minister, we have heard on many occasions about the effluent from sewage disposal works that is going into the watercourse. In the past, you committed to officials from your Department meeting DFI and NI Water officials, and you said that they have done so. Will you advise us on the outcome of those meetings to remedy…
The very constrained funding that is available to the Executive and the agreed draft Budget for 2025-26 provide a very difficult proposed outcome for my Department. I am working with my officials on how much resource and capital departmental expenditure limit (DEL) funding can be allocated to Lough Neagh to continue…
I heard the anger about the UK Government's decision on inheritance tax when I was at the Oxford Farming Conference last week. From that platform, I outlined my opposition to it again. I look forward to meeting the Ulster Farmers’ Union, the Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers Association (NIAPA) and the Finance…
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for a very detailed answer. He will be aware that politicians can make false promises. That leads me to the Labour Government, particularly in regard to farming and agriculture. Our farming families and agriculture sector were hit with a double whammy of unfulfilled promises…
A public consultation on the establishment of the just transition commission was launched on 11 November 2024. It has been extended to 17 January 2025. I encourage people to make any responses to it that they feel are necessary. The consultation focuses on the proposals to establish the commission, including the…
I do not have those statistics to hand, but my Department supports councils on the issue. In addition to overseeing the robust legislation that covers the fixed penalty notices that councils issue for dog-fouling offences, my Department is committed to reducing and preventing them. DAERA supports educational and…
I thank the Minister for his answer. My office has been working closely with council dog wardens in my constituency to tackle the issue in a number of areas along the north coast. The dog wardens are doing their best with limited resources. Is the Minister aware of how many fines have been handed out by councils in…
My Department does not provide financial support to councils to address dog fouling. It is, however, responsible for the legislation that grants councils the powers and the flexibility, subject to upper and lower limits, to set fixed penalty notices for dog-fouling offences. In December 2022, following requests from…
We are finalising our plans. Before Christmas, I had really good engagement with relevant animal welfare stakeholders. That engagement took place not just in Clare House but with the all-party group on animal welfare, which my colleague to my left, John Blair, ably chairs. We were able to discuss some of the measures…
I thank the Member who asked the substantive question. What action does the Minister plan to take to improve animal welfare in the remainder of this mandate?
It is for each council to provide its services. Councils have the ability to raise revenue through rates. I understand the financial pressures that each council faces. My Department faces similar pressures, particularly in light of the draft Budget settlement for next year. We can, however, work together, particularly…
I thank the Member for her supplementary question. As I said, I am meeting the councils this week. It is important that we collaborate on the issue. An outcome from the Member's question is that we encourage people to report concerns about animal welfare to their council, because it is important that issues be…
I am grateful to the Minister for that answer. He will be aware that there are a considerable number of cases of animal welfare and cruelty ongoing across Northern Ireland, and there are likely a great number of instances that go unreported and undetected. I am advised that, on average, each council area has only two…
The enforcement of non-farmed animal welfare remains the statutory responsibility of each council. Councils are best placed to determine how that function should be discharged and the level of resource that is required to meet the specific requirements of their regions. My Department has no remit to dictate how…