Oral Answers to Questions — Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:30 pm on 4 February 2025.
Danny Donnelly
Alliance
2:30,
4 February 2025
T6. Mr Donnelly asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail how the sustainable agriculture programme will improve environmental sustainability. (AQT 986/22-27)
Andrew Muir
Alliance
I was delighted to announce the sustainable agriculture programme last week on the basis of the commitment that I secured as part of the draft Budget for the earmarking of agriculture, agrienvironment, fisheries and rural development funding for the next financial year and future years. As I have outlined to the House previously, getting that was a significant achievement. No other part of the UK has been able to obtain that. In that context, I was able to announce the sustainable agriculture programme, which is based on four pillars. It is about improved environmental sustainability, enhanced productivity, stronger resilience and an effective, functioning supply chain. It is a critical Intervention to support not just our farming community but our environment and our economy. I was delighted to announce it last week. Communications will be sent out to farmers next month, and there are more details on the DAERA website. This is absolutely key for Northern Ireland as we chart the way forward for financial and environmental sustainability in our agriculture sector.
Danny Donnelly
Alliance
I thank the Minister for his answer. Where does 'Going for Growth' fit into his new vision for agriculture?
Andrew Muir
Alliance
I have outlined my vision for agriculture as part of the sustainable agriculture programme. It is a clear and positive vision going forward. I am already on record as saying that I believe that 'Going for Growth' was a mistake, and it does not feature as part of the sustainable agriculture programme, nor my future vision for agriculture. I was therefore rather shocked to receive a letter from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, addressed to me as Minister, that outlined concerns about the apparent disregard for the previous 'Going for Growth' programmes. It sought clarification of whether there was an opportunity to reinstate the programme. What planet are those councillors living on?
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
An intervention is when the MP making a speech is interrupted by another MP and asked to 'give way' to allow the other MP to intervene on the speech to ask a question or comment on what has just been said.
