1. Ms Sheerin asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on the renewed ammonia strategy. (AQO 751/22-27)

I thank the Member for her question. It is important that the ammonia strategy delivers the most effective measures to protect our environment. To do that, I need to consider all the relevant information available to me. Following a consultation in 2023, my Department considered the responses and used the information to inform a reworked draft ammonia strategy. However, I wish to seek additional views on proposed mandatory ammonia reduction measures, which will be included as part of the consultation process during the 2024 nutrients action programme review. To allow time for that process to take place, I anticipate that it will be 2025 before the ammonia strategy is finalised and ready for me to take to the Executive for approval and publication.

I am aware that although agriculture makes a significant contribution to Northern Ireland's economy, it produces 97% of current ammonia emissions. Action on ammonia is urgently required to support our local farm businesses and rural communities to thrive and be sustainable while, at the same time, protecting our environment and meeting our legislative requirements. It is essential that the ammonia strategy is science-led and can deliver measures that protect nature, meet Northern Ireland's legal obligations and ensure a sustainable agriculture sector.

Thanks to the Minister for that answer. Minister, you referred in your answer to the mandatory ammonia reduction strategies, which, obviously, farmers will be required to adhere to. What consideration have you given to the cost of doing that, particularly for smaller farmers, and the practicalities of that sort of machinery in areas of natural constraint? I am concerned that that might work against farmers who are trying to break into an industry that is calling out for producers.

I thank the Member for her question. She touches on an important issue, because we need to incentivise uptake of the technology that is being outlined. I wrote to the DEFRA Secretary of State in London about future agriculture funding for Northern Ireland and made the case for us having separate and additional funding, which I consider to be the just transition fund for agriculture. That would be capital funding to enable the uptake of the technology. Further to that letter, I will engage with the Secretary of State when I am in London next Monday.

When officials were asked at the Committee why planning applications for replacement buildings that would lead to lower ammonia emissions are not assessed differently to new developments, we were told:

"The regulations don't give any scope for us to consider any difference between new and replacement developments, but we do totally understand the frustration that this must cause".

Acknowledging those frustrations, will the Minister commit to changing those regulations, which are having a perverse impact on the outcomes that he wants to achieve?

I thank the Member for her supplementary question. Reductions in ammonia emissions in existing facilities will be taken into account in the new operational protocol to assess the impacts of air pollution on the natural environment, but the remaining level of ammonia pollution is the key factor that must be used by DAERA to provide advice to planning authorities. Further to my response, I understand the issue that you are outlining, which is otherwise known as betterment. I will be engaging with stakeholders about that in the days ahead as part of a ministerial round-table that I have convened on the issue. It is important that we have dialogue and engage on the matter and the general issue of ammonia.

Given the recent critical report on river basin management plans by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), what steps will the Minister take to ensure that the new ammonia strategy is fully compliant with the water framework directive regulations and contributes significantly to the water framework directive's environmental objectives? What lessons could your Department learn from what Teagasc is doing in the South in relation to engagement and being proactive —

Question.

— about protecting river basins?

The Member asked two questions. One was about engagement. As I outlined to Michelle McIlveen, that is something that I have prioritised. I have convened a ministerial round-table on the issue of ammonia to engage with stakeholders. The other one was about the Office for Environmental Protection's report last week on river basin management plans. I have put it clearly on the record that I accept the recommendations that were set out in that report. It is important that, whatever we do on ammonia or other matters that are in my portfolio, we act in accordance with the law. That is the space that I am in.

Last week, I talked an awful lot about water quality. Today, we are talking about ammonia and air quality. We need to have the same focus on air quality issues that we have on water in our responsibility for dealing with those issues. We have seen water quality issues playing out in our rivers, lakes and loughs in Northern Ireland, but air quality is also a serious concern. Just because it is not as visible, it does not mean that we should not take heed of the legal obligations to act.

I have a quick question about responses by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) to planning applications where ammonia is an issue. Those responses seem to have been delayed again and again. Is there any update on the situation being progressed or getting any better?

First, I congratulate Lord Elliott on his elevation to the other place. Congratulations on that. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency is doing what it can on planning applications, but we have to act in accordance with the law and ensure that our advice is given appropriately and reflects the law. There are also resource constraints. It is important that we recognise that statutory consultees act within the resources that are available to them. We have done what we can in the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, but the budget for the next financial year will be important in allowing us provide those resources to the environment agency so that it can respond to the planning applications.

We have been assured that the current method that DAERA uses to assess planning applications, which was announced on 19 December 2023, is now fit for purpose and informed by science and evidence. As the emerging ammonia strategy is to be published shortly —

A question, Mr Gaston.

— will the Minister confirm that the current robust science-led approach will remain in place until the new strategy is announced, thus ensuring that those who have their planning applications in the system already will not see the goalposts moved again?

As Minister, I will always be guided by the evidence and science, particularly on ammonia. If the evidence and science were to change, it would be negligent of me not to respond to that. I cannot say that nothing will change in the future, but it is important that we are guided by the evidence and science. That is why we are having discussions at the ministerial round-table about the situation as it presents itself to me.