Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
The Committee pictured shortly before the start of a meeting in room 21, Parliament Buildings.
Latest News
The Committee will have briefings on the following:
Details of upcoming meetings and agendas can be found on the Business Diary.
Interested in the future work of the Committee? View our Forward Work Programme.
Committee Membership
The current Committee membership is:
- Mr Robbie Butler, UUP (Chairperson)
- Mr Declan McAleer MLA, Sinn Féin (Deputy Chairperson)
- Mr John Blair MLA, Alliance
- Mr Tom Buchanan MLA, DUP
- Ms Aoife Finnegan MLA, Sinn Féin
- Mr Daniel McCrossan MLA, SDLP
- Miss Michelle McIlveen MLA, DUP
- Miss Áine Murphy MLA, Sinn Féin
- Mr Gareth Wilson MLA, DUP
Quick Links
- Watch Again
- Forward Work Programme
- Minutes of Proceedings
- Minutes of Evidence
- Legislation
- Reports
- Research Papers
- Press Releases
- Committee Engagement
- Guidance for witnesses appearing before a Committee and on submitting written evidence
- Committee Privacy Notice
- Work of the Committee in previous mandate
The Fisheries, Aquaculture and Water Environment Bill
The Fisheries, Aquaculture and Water Environment Bill was formally introduced by the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on 22 June 2026.
The main purpose of the Bill is to update current fisheries legislation to modernise and implement Northern Ireland’s fisheries policies to ensure that commercial and recreational fishing is undertaken at sustainable levels so it can benefit future generations.
The Bill completed its Second Stage on 30 June 2026 and was referred to the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for scrutiny (the Committee Stage of the Bill) on 1 July 2026.
As part of the Assembly’s legislative processes, the Committee will now consider and take evidence on the Bill and report its opinion to the Assembly.
The closing date for responses is 11 September 2026.
Further information
Hunting with Dogs Bill - Have Your Say!
The Hunting with Dogs Bill was formally introduced by John Blair, MLA on 27 April 2026.
The Hunting with Dogs Bill proposes to prohibit the use of dogs to hunt, attack, or kill wild mammals. The policy objectives of the Bill are to prohibit the use of dogs to hunt, attack, or kill wild mammals; and close off any potential loophole where trail hunting is used as a smokescreen for illegal hunting.
The Bill completed its Second Stage on 26 May 2026, and was referred to the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for scrutiny (the Committee Stage of the Bill).
As part of the Assembly’s legislative processes, the Committee will now consider and take evidence on the Bill and report its opinion to the Assembly.
The closing date for responses is 24 August 2026.
Further information
Areas with Natural Constraints (Payments) Bill - Have Your Say!
The Areas with Natural Constraints (Payments) Bill was formally introduced by Declan McAleer, MLA on 16 February 2026.
A Bill to require the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to make regulations under the Agriculture Act 2020 as to payments for areas with natural constraints.
The Bill completed its Second Stage on 22 March 2026 and is now referred to the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for scrutiny.
As part of the Assembly’s legislative processes, the Committee will now consider and take evidence on the Bill and report its opinion to the Assembly.
Further information
Bills at Committee Stage
The Areas with Natural Constraints (Payments) Bill
A Bill to require the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to make regulations under the Agriculture Act 2020 as to payments for areas with natural constraints.
The Fisheries, Aquaculture and Water Environment Bill
A Bill to update current fisheries legislation to modernise and implement Northern Ireland’s fisheries policies to ensure that commercial and recreational fishing is undertaken at sustainable levels so it can benefit future generations.
The Hunting with Dogs Bill
A Bill to prohibit the use of dogs to hunt, attack, or kill wild mammals. The policy objectives of the Bill are to prohibit the use of dogs to hunt, attack, or kill wild mammals; and close off any potential loophole where trail hunting is used as a smokescreen for illegal hunting
Further Information
Climate Justice Conference - 18th June 2026
Focusing on the ecological crisis at Lough Neagh, the conference will bring together a range of perspectives to examine the complex legal, regulatory, and governance issues associated with large-scale ecological change. The event is designed to provide a space for informed, constructive discussion on how different systems and institutions interact, and how they can be strengthened to support more effective environmental outcomes.
Pictured below are Robbie Butler MLA, Chair of the AERA Committee, Dr Eduardo Salazar-Ortuño, and Simon Chambers, Chair of the Law Society's Climate Justice Group.
Chair Supports OEP Report Launch
AERA Chairperson Robbie Butler, MLA was pleased to sponsor the launch of the Office for Environmental Protection’s (OEP) first statutory report on the Environmental Improvement Plan at Parliament Buildings on 24 June 2026. On behalf of the AERA Committee, Chair Robbie Butler MLA welcomed the OEP’s new Chair, Dame Helen Ghosh, and wished her well in her role.
Robbie highlighted the strong relationship between the Committee and the OEP, recognising its important role in environmental accountability and improvement. He also noted the Committee’s engagement with the OEP throughout the mandate, including evidence sessions, discussions on the Nutrients Action Programme Regulations report, and participation in the Committee’s recent anaerobic digestion stakeholder event.
The event reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to constructive engagement and continued scrutiny of progress against the Environmental Improvement Plan.
Contact the Committee
Committee Clerk: Dr Janice Thompson
Room 285, Parliament Buildings,
Ballymiscaw,Stormont,
Belfast, BT4 3XX
Tel: (028) 90 521369
Email: Committee.AgriEnvRural@niassembly.gov.uk
