Closest matches to “Minister challenged on Nutrients Action Programme”
From other parties, ranked by how close their text is in meaning. Close in meaning is not the same as agreeing. Include DUP · Back to the release
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Nutrient Action Programme proposals unworkable – McAleer
Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer says the Nutrient Action Programme proposals – cutting the P balance to 8 kg/ha from 2029 and mandating Low Emission Slurry Spreading Equipment by 2030 – are unworkable, could force farmers out of business and ignore local conditions, and urges the Minister to listen and
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: DAERA consultation on Nutrients Action Programme review and 2026-2029 programme Original release: Nutrient Action Programme proposals unworkable – McAleer (opens in a new tab)
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Nutrients Action Programme an essential opportunity to address crisis in waterways, says Blair
Alliance's agriculture and environment spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes DAERA's launch of a consultation on reviewing the 2019 Nutrients Action Programme and the proposed programme covering 2026 to 2029.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DAERA consultation on Nutrients Action Programme review and 2026-2029 programme Original release: Nutrients Action Programme an essential opportunity to address crisis in waterways, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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‘We will continue to make the case for a just transition’ – McAleer
Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer calls on Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir to heed widespread concerns about the department’s Nutrient Action Programme after the Assembly voted to reject the proposals, urging proper farmer engagement, impact assessments and support for a just transition.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Assembly vote rejecting NAP proposals Original release: ‘We will continue to make the case for a just transition’ – McAleer (opens in a new tab)
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Butler Challenges DAERA Minister To Break Planning Deadlock Harming NI’s Agri-Food Sector
UUP deputy leader Robbie Butler MLA calls on the DAERA Minister to break a planning deadlock stalling farm improvements, urging adoption of a mitigation-and-betterment model like Natural England's. He also criticises the Department's reliance on the Office for Environmental Protection and a…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Original release: Butler Challenges DAERA Minister To Break Planning Deadlock Harming NI’s Agri-Food Sector (opens in a new tab)
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Patsy McGlone: Incentives and clarity for farmers needed amid nutrients action programme changes
SDLP Opposition AERA Spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA calls on DAERA to match nutrients action programme regulation with increased financial support and a realistic lead-in time for farmers. He cites Irish Government low-emission slurry spreading and advisory supports as a model.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: DAERA consultation on Nutrients Action Programme review and 2026-2029 programme Original release: Patsy McGlone: Incentives and clarity for farmers needed amid nutrients action programme changes (opens in a new tab)
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New Nutrients Action Programme Proposals Will Devastate Family Farms Without Delivering Real Environmental Gains
TUV vice chairman Causeway Councillor Allister Kyle says proposed Nutrients Action Programme measures for 2026–2029 would harm small and medium farms, citing slurry spreading limits, a 3-metre buffer strip and low emission equipment rules. He calls on the Department to redraft the programme and…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: DAERA consultation on Nutrients Action Programme review and 2026-2029 programme Original release: New Nutrients Action Programme Proposals Will Devastate Family Farms Without Delivering Real Environmental Gains (opens in a new tab)
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Muir sets out priorities for economically and environmentally sustainable agri-food sector
Alliance DAERA Minister Andrew Muir MLA says the new Farm Support and Development Programme will drive a greener, more productive agri‑food sector, cutting emissions, boosting resilience, securing food supplies and improving water quality across Northern Ireland.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Farm Support and Development Programme announcement Original release: Muir sets out priorities for economically and environmentally sustainable agri-food sector (opens in a new tab)
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Tackling ammonia levels requires more than just addressing planning application backlog, says Blair
Alliance spokesperson John Blair MLA says a DUP motion on on-farm investment does not address ammonia emissions, arguing that clearing the backlog of planning applications with insufficient mitigations will not reduce levels enough.
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DUP motion on on-farm investment and ammonia emissions Original release: Tackling ammonia levels requires more than just addressing planning application backlog, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Minister threatens every farmer’s herd over a problem he says is 7%
UUP Deputy Leader and Agriculture Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA challenges the Agriculture Minister over Belfast Telegraph remarks that about 7% of farmers produce around 70% of phosphorus, and his warning about herd size. She calls for support for the 90% of farmers doing the right thing and…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Agriculture Minister's phosphorus remarks and herd size warning in Belfast Telegraph interview Original release: Minister threatens every farmer’s herd over a problem he says is 7% (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 14 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Kearney urges DAERA Minister to address the pressures on Lough Neagh’s fishing industry
Sinn Féin's Declan Kearney, South Antrim MLA, has written to the DAERA Minister urging action on financial pressures facing Lough Neagh's commercial freshwater fishermen after last year's shortened eel season. He calls for contingency planning and a communication strategy before summer.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Original release: Kearney urges DAERA Minister to address the pressures on Lough Neagh’s fishing industry (opens in a new tab)
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UK Government must act on farm tax concerns, says Muir.
Alliance DAERA Minister Andrew Muir backs farmers opposing the UK Government's cut to Agricultural Property Relief, which DAERA analysis says could hit half of Northern Ireland's farms. He says he will press the issue with ministers from across the UK nations and with farming groups.
Agriculture and rural affairs Public finance and taxation Issue: UK Government cut to Agricultural Property Relief for farms Original release: UK Government must act on farm tax concerns, says Muir. (opens in a new tab)
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Butler Warns of Strain on Farmers Amid NAP Consultation
UUP agriculture spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA warns that proposed 2026–2029 Nutrients Action Programme changes must not strain farmers' livelihoods, calls for scrutiny of the consultation, and urges stakeholders to respond before the deadline.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: DAERA consultation on Nutrients Action Programme review and 2026-2029 programme Original release: Butler Warns of Strain on Farmers Amid NAP Consultation (opens in a new tab)
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Muir’s Anti-Farming Tantrum Won’t Save Lough Neagh – TUV
TUV chairman and agriculture spokesman Councillor Allister Kyle accuses Agriculture Minister Muir of resisting criticism over his Nutrients Action Programme and blaming others for Lough Neagh's pollution. He says farmers have already made changes and calls for them to be treated as partners…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Nutrients Action Programme response and Lough Neagh pollution blame Original release: Muir’s Anti-Farming Tantrum Won’t Save Lough Neagh – TUV (opens in a new tab)
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Northern Ireland Vulnerable to Unchecked Food & Mouth Imports - Swann & Butler
UUP MLA Robbie Butler and MP Robin Swann write to DAERA Minister Andrew Muir and DEFRA Secretary Steve Reed over gaps in animal disease controls for Northern Ireland after the UK's EU meat and cheese import ban. They say DEFRA could not confirm inspection figures for Dover and Sevington…
Agriculture and rural affairs International affairs Issue: UK ban on EU cheese and meat imports over Foot and Mouth disease Original release: Northern Ireland Vulnerable to Unchecked Food & Mouth Imports - Swann & Butler (opens in a new tab)
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DAREA Minister worked at pace to deliver Lough Neagh actions despite obstacles, says Blair
Alliance spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's Lough Neagh actions, including an enforcement taskforce of twenty officers, slurry measures and a sand dredging review. He criticises the Executive for not yet approving cross-departmental elements such as fines review and…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Lough Neagh blue-green algae action plan and £1.5 million funding Original release: DAREA Minister worked at pace to deliver Lough Neagh actions despite obstacles, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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OEP report "another damning indictment of the Stormont Executive" - Cllr Smyth
Green Party Councillor for Lisnasharragh Brian Smyth says the new Office for Environmental Protection biodiversity report condemns the Stormont Executive, warning that current agri‑industry practices are unsustainable, polluting land, rivers and air, and urging urgent nutrient cuts, habitat recovery
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: Office for Environmental Protection biodiversity report Original release: OEP report "another damning indictment of the Stormont Executive" - Cllr Smyth (opens in a new tab)
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Labour Budget will crush farmers - Lord Elliott
Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Elliott says the Labour Budget will devastate Northern Ireland farmers, warning that changes to Agricultural Property Relief could force family farms out of business. He also criticises ending ring-fencing of NI farm support within the Block Grant, which he says could…
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: Budget changes to Agricultural Property Relief and farm inheritance tax Original release: Labour Budget will crush farmers - Lord Elliott (opens in a new tab)
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Blair calls out reckless attempt to undermine agri-food system by unionist parties and representatives
Alliance MLA John Blair condemns unionist parties' attempt to annul the Animals (Identification, Records, Movement and Enforcement) (Amendment) Regulations, calling the Prayer of Annulment reckless and ideologically driven and warning it risked farm-to-fork traceability and export potential.
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: DUP Prayer of Annulment against livestock identification and traceability regulations Original release: Blair calls out reckless attempt to undermine agri-food system by unionist parties and representatives (opens in a new tab)
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Tipping point in how we manage water, say McReynolds, following sewage investigation
Alliance MLA Peter McReynolds says Northern Ireland is at a tipping point in water management after an investigation found high sewage levels in Belfast Lough. He calls on Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd to commission the expert-led review of NI Water's funding and governance that the Audit…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Investigation finds high sewage levels in Belfast Lough Original release: Tipping point in how we manage water, say McReynolds, following sewage investigation (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong: Minister refusing to face reality on climate targets
UUP Deputy Leader and Agriculture Spokesperson Diana Armstrong MLA responds to DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's Croke Park climate speech, calling for Northern Ireland's climate targets to be reviewed and revised, citing Climate Change Committee advice on an 82% reduction and Scotland's move to…
Environment and climate Agriculture and rural affairs Issue: DAERA Minister Andrew Muir Environment Ireland Conference climate action speech Original release: Armstrong: Minister refusing to face reality on climate targets (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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TB figures offer a glimmer of hope but Northern Ireland’s farming families are still paying a devastating price
UUP agriculture spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA cautiously welcomes a 15% fall in new bovine TB reactor herds in early 2026 but says it is too early to declare progress. He highlights ongoing cattle removals, rising TB budget costs and mental health pressures on farmers, and calls on DAERA to adopt…
Agriculture and rural affairs Economy and employment Issue: NI bovine TB reactor herd figures for first two months of 2026 Original release: TB figures offer a glimmer of hope but Northern Ireland’s farming families are still paying a devastating price (opens in a new tab)
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Blair welcomes DAERA Minister’s commitment to key environmental decisions
Alliance Environment spokesperson John Blair MLA welcomes DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's commitment to a series of environmental strategies this Assembly mandate, citing a written answer. He calls for political will across the chamber and reform of the Executive approval process, which he says is…
Environment and climate Issue: DAERA Minister Andrew Muir's environmental strategies commitment for remainder of mandate Original release: Blair welcomes DAERA Minister’s commitment to key environmental decisions (opens in a new tab)
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Farmers were right on NAP, the hard work of delivery now falls to Muir
UUP agriculture spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA cautiously welcomes the revised Nutrients Action Programme published for consultation, but says delivery now rests with Minister Muir. He calls for the economic impact assessment to be published in full and says Northern Ireland Water, wastewater and…
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Revised Nutrients Action Programme published for consultation Original release: Farmers were right on NAP, the hard work of delivery now falls to Muir (opens in a new tab)