AERA Committee chairman re-affirms his commitment to the development of a NAP that delivers for farming

He spoke after committee members met with agri stakeholder representatives on the issue.

He added:

“As the Ulster Unionist AERA spokesperson, I believe last week’s Committee-led Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) stakeholder meeting at the Stormont Hotel in Belfast should be an important reset moment for how Northern Ireland approaches environmental regulation and agricultural policy.

“The event was organised to ensure the Committee hears directly from the farming, agri-food and environmental sectors, not after decisions are made, but before.

“Reflecting on the previous ill-fated ministerial attempt to update the NAP regulations, I have been focused on the absolute requirement for genuine stakeholder buy-in.

“No one disputes the need to be environmentally responsible. However, the direction and tone of the last consultation left many in farming and agri-food feeling like scapegoats for all of Northern Ireland’s environmental failings, which is simply far from the truth.”

According to the AERA Committee chairman, the stakeholder session was open, honest and challenging in equal measure, and the findings will be shared with attendees in the coming weeks. This kind of collaborative engagement, he believes, must now become the norm rather than the exception as we work toward balanced, evidence-based outcomes.

Robbie Butler concluded: “Reaffirming the Ulster Unionist Party’s commitment, I will continue to speak up for farming and agri-food and work for sustainable, deliverable solutions that safeguard food security and protect our shared environment for future generations.

“Recognising that the Committee’s role in any new NAP proposals will extend to scrutiny of all departmental actions, I want to be clear: farmers must be partners in solutions, not targets for blame.”

Meanwhile, the Ulster Farmers’ Union says DAERA must act immediately to address planning blockages created by their ammonia operational protocol, and support vital and sustainable farm development.

Natural England has recently made moves to improve the planning guidance around ammonia, providing more flexibility regarding replacement buildings where nutrients have been reduced. It is vital that DAERA now follows suit.

UFU deputy president John McLenaghan said: “Local farmers have been waiting far too long for DAERA to take a common sense approach to planning applications for replacement buildings where betterment can be demonstrated.

“The department continue to block farmers from making environmental, welfare and efficiency improvements by using the current ammonia planning protocol, while also blocking progress towards their own targetsin the process.

“We’ve been highlighting this for years and quite frankly, their continued stalling is embarrassing and pathetic.”

He concluded: “In April, in response to DAERA’s consultation on the Northern Ireland interim operation protocol for ammonia, we presented a robust response put together by a team of experts collectively employed by the industry, UFU, NIMEA, Dairy Council, LMC, NI Pork and Bacon Forum, NI Poultry Industry Federation and NIGTA, with a comprehensive legal opinion.

“The approach now being taken by Natural England on ammonia and planning mean that DAERA can no longer hide.

“We need a sensible approach on the ammonia operational protocol, in particular, an approach that supports planning applications and some farm permit and licenses where existing buildings are being replaced and upgraded.

“We are consulting our legal team on our next steps to achieve this.”