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.
I agree 100%. It is nearly 10 years since the Bengoa report. The recommendations of that report resonate loudly with me and should be heard by populist politicians who pretend that difficult decisions can be delayed without real consequences. I will quote from the report, although I should not have to do so 10 years…
I thank the Minister for his answer. Minister, do you agree that it is rural communities that feel the impact of service collapse most and that, when we do not plan for any transformation of the health service, it is those rural communities that will pay the highest price?
Thank you, Nuala. I am conscious that my role is that of Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. The transformation of Health and Social Care (HSC) is critical for people who live in rural areas: they deserve health outcomes that are much improved from those that are offered currently. The current…
Climate action is absolutely imperative. Climate change is the biggest economic risk to us. It will potentially devastate farming across the UK if we do not take action. The people of Northern Ireland deserve better than denial, dither and delay from the DUP, which sidles up to its friends in Reform UK and to Donald…
I am not going to thank the Minister for that answer, because it was not particularly helpful. He has stated that there will be no rolling back, but climate policy must be affordable and attainable. Will he confirm whether his test for climate policy is that it will reduce emissions at an affordable cost or simply…
The climate action plan is very clear about its implementation and the impact on our economy. If, however, people do not get what the impact of climate change is and will be on farming, I despair.
Thank you, Andy. There has been extensive stakeholder engagement on that issue. I will check with officials and write to you to set out a bit more information about the important issue that you have raised.
Is the Minister able to advise whether, as part of the engagement with Exchange for Change, there has been any discussion about what supports will be in place for those with reduced mobility, for example, who perhaps will not be able to return the containers themselves?
The deposit return scheme for drinks containers is scheduled to launch in October 2027. Exchange for Change has been appointed as the deposit management organisation across the UK, including Wales. As an independent, not-for-profit private organisation, it will be responsible for the administration and day-to-day…
The policy plays a key role, but it is important that there be a review. I have also expressed my view on the situation. Where some operators are non-compliant, we have focused on bringing them back into compliance, only for them to do it again, after which we focus again on bringing them back into compliance rather…
I thank the Minister for that answer. It certainly sounds as though there will be progress made on improving processes to tackle and better solve water quality issues. What role does DAERA enforcement policy play in tackling environmental crime, and where can further improvements be made?
The Department has taken a range of actions on environmental crime. Additional legislation will be introduced to increase fines and penalties so that we can hold polluters in Northern Ireland to account. There are also measures in the Justice Bill that will deal with issues such as serious and organised crime. I am…
Daniel, I have seen enough to know that there needs to be an independent external review of the matter: that is why I have commissioned it. I get the public concern about it, and I have instructed that any further use of the humane slaughter team must be authorised by the Chief Veterinary Officer in advance of any…
I thank the Minister for that answer. I have no doubt that the footage caused him distress, as it did everyone else. However, given his long-held views on animal cruelty, surely the Minister does not need a review to acknowledge that the cull was handled badly by the Department. Minister, will you explain precisely…
That is precisely why I have commissioned an independent external review on that matter. If there was wrongdoing or if mistakes were made, it is important that that is identified and published and that lessons are learnt. I am clear that there should be openness and transparency on it. I will not pre-empt the outcome…
Thank you, Patsy. A range of monitoring takes place on the lough. There is a dashboard available so that people can see that, and it is important that people have access to that information. Fundamentally, however, we need to address the pollution. That is why we have gone out to consult on a revised nutrients action…
Minister, this year again, we have seen the proliferation of blue-green algae on the lough. What measures are being or have been put in place to monitor the effectiveness or otherwise of the action that your Department has taken?
We all, including you, have a responsibility to encourage anyone who has any information associated with that crime to report it so that we can bring the offenders to justice, because it is wrong and deplorable. I have asked officials to consider what more we can do to have a coordinated response to that, and they are…
Minister, in your answer, you referred to how you are doing all that you can on water quality. In May, in a constituency beside mine, six to 10 sheep, one calf and 20 to 30 lambs were dumped in a river. No farmer dumps animals in a river, so, in my eyes, whoever did that is not a farmer. Those animals are still in…
Thank you, David. Last month, I requested and had a meeting with the Earl of Shaftesbury to discuss the ownership of the bed and soil of Lough Neagh. The option for the transfer of the bed and soil, without charge, to public ownership was discussed. Community ownership was noted as presenting significant challenges,…
I thank the Minister for his answer. Will the Minister give an update on his efforts to bring the lough's bed and soil into community or public ownership?
Of the 37 actions in the plan, 23 have been delivered, and 14 are actively progressing. I remain committed to driving forward the delivery of the remaining actions at pace. Progress to date reflects coordinated efforts across key themes, including scientific research; enhanced monitoring and enforcement; education and…
That is my desire. The first meeting of the group is on Wednesday. Thus far, the council has not nominated anyone. Hopefully, it will do that before Wednesday, because we have to do this together. It has to be a collective effort. I am happy to lead it, but other parts of government, including local government, have a…
I thank the Minister for those details. Of course, bringing any number of organisations together is really important in order to deliver on the ground. Sometimes, however, people get strategic oversight group fatigue. They see lots of groups coming together, but tangible outcomes on the ground can be slow to reach…
Thank you, Diane. The whole principle is about taking a bottom-up approach. We have the Forever Mournes partnership, and this is an opportunity for it to escalate things for resolution. The Forever Mournes partnership will be at the heart of this. It has done good work, but what was really required was a forum for it…