Question Time: Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Meeting Tuesday 13 April 2021

Edwin Poots, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, answers Members questions on 13 April 2021.

Read the Official Report (Hansard) – https://lk.nia.fyi/4A2Q

Each of the questions answered have been chaptered in the video to help you find them more easily.

Chapters / Questions

00:00 – Fishing Vessels: Customs Declaration

1. Mr Beattie asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs whether fishing vessels leaving local ports are required to complete a customs declaration on return. (AQO 1834/17-22)

07:15 – Agricultural Policy

2. Ms Dolan asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on the development of a future agricultural policy. (AQO 1835/17-22)

12:41 – Roe Valley Country Park

3. Mr Robinson asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on the completion of his Department’s project at the Roe Valley Country Park. (AQO 1836/17-22)

16:30 – Islandmagee Gas Storage Project

4. Mr Stewart asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on the marine licensing process for the Islandmagee gas storage project. (AQO 1837/17-22)

22:09 – Veterinary Education Facility

5. Mr M Bradley asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on the options analysis for a veterinary education facility. (AQO 1838/17-22)

27:37 – Rural Policy Framework: Update

6. Mr Boylan asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on the rural policy framework. (AQO 1839/17-22) Topical Questions

29:59 – Climate Change Bill: Consultation

T1. Ms Dolan asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to confirm whether, when developing his proposals for a climate change Bill, he consulted environmental experts other than the Climate Change Committee. (AQT 1161/17-22)

32:20 – Pet Vaccinations

T2. Mrs Barton asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, given that Great Britain is opening up to receive visitors and tourists and the fact that the holiday period is coming, whether the current mitigation for the vaccination of pets will be extended beyond June and into July and August to allow people from Northern Ireland who wish to travel with their pets to enter into and return from GB. (AQT 1162/17-22)

35:38 – Climate Change Bill: Consultation

T3. Mr Middleton asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline the independent scientific advice that his Department received when drafting its proposed climate change Bill, given that he will be aware that climate change is an issue that concerns us all. (AQT 1163/17-22)

38:45 – Carbon Sequestration

T4. Dr Archibald asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what scientific work his Department is doing to recognise the importance of carbon sequestration in our soil, hedgerows and trees etc. (AQT 1164/17-22)

43:01 – Food Strategy Framework

T5. Mr T Buchanan asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on the future food strategy framework. (AQT 1165/17-22)