Questions asked by David Honeyford in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Mr Muir

I welcome the detailed advice and recommendations that I received from the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) in its response to the consultation on the proposed measures in the revised nutrients action programme (NAP). My Department is carefully considering those recommendations alongside all the other consultation responses. I asked the stakeholder task and finish group, with representatives from the agriculture, environmental and agri-food sectors, to develop proposals that are evidence based, workable at farm level within realistic time frames and meet legislative requirements. I truly appreciate the time and effort that have gone into that process. However, the OEP has raised issues that need to be considered and that will lead to changes to the final NAP proposals. It is imperative that we protect the environment and adhere to the law. Findings from the OEP that non-compliance with nitrogen limits may be widespread and that potentially 1,990 farms may be exceeding that limit are deeply concerning and must be addressed, as must the need to reform slurry exports, as I warned about on 10 June 2025. My officials are working closely with the OEP and stakeholders to finalise the measures in the NAP. I will consider those before taking my final decisions on the updated NAP regulations.

Mr Muir

The consequences are twofold. They are catastrophic, frankly. If we do not address the issues that I have warned the House about repeatedly, we will have a significant issue when it comes to the long-term viability of farming and our international reputation, which we rely upon for trade. We also face the complete and utter collapse of our waterways. It is imperative that we take those decisions. I commend the stakeholders for the work that they have done, and I commend the OEP for its response. I will consider that in the time ahead. We must take action to address the issue, deliver long-term viability and recognise the great work that has been done by farmers to date and the need to go further.

Ms Finnegan

Minister, how are you ensuring that any revised requirements are practical and properly supported for small farmers?

Mr Muir

As I set out, the criteria for the stakeholder group were very clear. We must strive for that, but we also must abide by the law. When we talk about the rule of law, in this role, my focus is not just on criminal law but on environmental law, and it is important that we abide by that. Alongside that, we must support our farmers in the journey ahead, and part of that is about the funding that we are providing, particularly through the sustainable farm investment scheme, the sustainable catchment programme and that Shared Island funding and wider initiatives. I am committed to doing that so that we can ensure that we have a strong and viable future for farming while improving water quality in our rivers, lakes and loughs.

Mr Wilson

There has been plenty of talk in the House today about not going back. Can the Minister confirm that there will not be any going back to the unworkable and unfair NAP proposals, and, as Agriculture Minister, will he ensure that he will protect that industry and work with it constructively to reach a fair settlement that protects the environment and, crucially, the farmer?

Mr Muir

I work night and day to achieve a future that is thriving and resilient and is environmentally sustainable for farming. That is hard, because the challenges are immense, but I am committed to doing that. We want to see measures that are workable at farm level within realistic time frames, but we also want to meet our obligations under the law. The Member will be aware of the previous and current legal challenges against my Department. I need to be mindful of that.

Dr Archibald

Ensuring that electricity grid capacity does not act as a barrier to economic investment is a priority for me and my Department. Through the grid development monitoring group, my Department brings together key stakeholders to drive progress on strategic transmission and distribution projects and to identify barriers to delivery. In addition, my Department is working closely with NIE Networks, the System Operator for Northern Ireland (SONI) and the Utility Regulator to support major network investment, including the £2·27 billion RP7 programme to increase network capacity and resilience. I have also introduced reforms to electricity connection charging arrangements, making it fairer and more affordable for homes and businesses to connect to the network. Together, those actions will help ensure that the electricity network can support business investment, economic growth and job creation across the North.

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker

OK. Thank you, David.

Dr Archibald

I thank the Member for his question and for his considerable interest in energy policy, which I really do appreciate. We have discussed the issue on a number of occasions. Later in the year, I will publish the energy strategy policy statement, which will set out the key milestones for delivery to 2030. The statement will recognise that we need to be smarter and have a stronger and more flexible electricity grid for the exact reasons that the Member has laid out: supporting economic growth, attracting investment and increasing our renewable electricity generation. We will look at how the various pieces of work by the stakeholders across the energy system fit together, because alignment is important to achieve the outcomes that we are all collectively trying for.

Mr Kearney

Minister, businesses in rural areas already have to contend with many more obstacles than businesses in urban areas. How will you ensure that rural businesses specifically are not disadvantaged when seeking grid connections?

Dr Archibald

I thank the Member for his question. One of the key reasons why we took the decision that we did on connection charging policy was to address the unfairnesses in the existing system, particularly for rural businesses, which often faced much greater costs. Under the previous arrangements, customers in areas where the grid was weaker could face significantly higher costs where reinforcement of the wider network was required. The new arrangements that are now in place spread those costs more fairly across the customer base and make it easier and more affordable for homes and businesses, particularly in rural areas, to connect to the grid. They help remove that unfair geographic penalty and deliver greater fairness regardless of location. As I said, that is particularly important for making a more level playing field for rural businesses. We have had positive feedback, but obviously it takes time to see the impact of some of the changes. The investment by NIE Networks in the grid will play an important part in addressing some of the challenges that we face.

Mr Harvey

Minister, when do you intend to publish the long-duration energy storage policy?

Dr Archibald

I thank the Member for his question. We will publish the storage policy before the end of the year. I cannot give a firm date — I will check with officials — but it is being finalised, and we will publish it before the end of the calendar year.

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker

Doug Beattie is not in his place.

Mr Muir

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 stakeholder engagement; regulatory reform; and strategic communications. Consultation on an updated nutrients action programme concludes today. There is also £49 million of funding from the Shared Island Fund to support farmers with nature-based solutions. I am doing all that I can to improve water quality, but tough decisions are needed to secure investment in waste water. I still await approval from the Executive in relation to stronger regulation of and enforcement in sewage pollution. Whilst important strides have been made, it is important to recognise that the recovery of the lough requires sustained, long-term action and leadership in taking those difficult decisions, which I am looking for.

Mr Muir

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, given the scale of the lough and the range of interests within the catchment, but it was also recognised that it should not be ruled out as a long-term goal. As we know, Lough Neagh is also of strategic importance to drinking water security, and, naturally, that must influence future ownership and governance arrangements. I have written to the Infrastructure Minister today to request a meeting about transferring the bed and soil of Lough Neagh to Waterways Ireland, NI Water or the Department for Infrastructure. This is an important opportunity, and I hope that it can be seized.

Mr K Buchanan

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 that river, affecting both it and a river that flows through my constituency and goes into Lough Neagh. Therefore, you are not doing all that you can for water quality, because those animals are still in that river and polluting it. What will you do to address that issue?

Mr Muir

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 taking forward work on a wider coordinated response. Ultimately, a crime has been committed. Someone is culpable, and the veil of secrecy needs to end. People need to report it to the official agencies to ensure that the guilty person goes in front of a court.

Mr McGlone

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?

Mr Muir

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 programme, and it is why I seek enhanced regulation and enforcement against sewage pollution, which will end the bye ball that has wrongly been afforded to NI Water. Alongside that, we need to have stronger fines and penalties. I am progressing the legislation, but we also need an independent environmental protection agency. As you know, that has been vetoed by one party. It is a shining example of why there must be reform of the institutions. It is an affront to democracy that an independent environmental protection agency cannot proceed because one party does not like it.

Mr Speaker

We move on to topical questions.