Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee

Minutes of Proceedings - 29 September 2026

Meeting location: Room 30, Parliament Buildings

 

Present:

Diana Armstrong (Chairperson)

John Blair MLA

Tom Buchanan MLA

Aoife Finnegan MLA

Michelle McIlveen MLA

Gareth Wilson MLA

         

Via Zoom

Aoife Finnegan MLA until 10:30am, then in person

 

The meeting opened in Public Session at 10:13am

 

1. Apologies

Declan McAleer MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

 

2. Declaration of Interests

The Chairperson reminded Members of their responsibility to declare any interests in any of the items under discussion.

John Blair MLA declared an interest in Agenda Item 7, End of Session Report (September 2025 to July 2026), as the report refers to the Hunting with Dogs Bill, for which he is the Bill Sponsor.

 

3. Minutes

Agreed: The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 22 September 2026.

 

The Foyle Association of Salmon and Trout Anglers (FASTA) representatives joined the meeting by Zoom at 10:16am

Tom Buchanan MLA joined the meeting at 10:16am

Aoife Finnegan MLA joined the meeting in person at 10:34am

 

Fisheries, Aquaculture and Water Environment Bill Oral Evidence Session - Foyle Association of Salmon and Trout Anglers (FASTA)

This item was recorded by Hansard

The following FASTA representatives briefed the Committee:

  • David Nelson - Secretary of FASTA;
  • Colin Duncan;
  • Brendan Winters; and
  • Alex Boyd – all Members of FASTA

The Committee heard that there was support for the Bill as FASTA have concerns for public safety due to ongoing serious pollution incidents with fears that the intensification of agriculture will further impact on water quality.

The Committee also heard the proliferation of Anaerobic Digester (AD) operations will create more issues and that the AD planning application process must show evidence of soil, air and water quality and investigations should include onsite independent monitoring and testing.

The Committee also heard concerns that the legislation will open the door to an increase in off-shore Salmon farms which will have negative impact on native fish stocks.

In relation to penalties and enforcement, FASTA agrees with the "polluter must pay principle" and that persistent offenders should automatically face suspension/revocation of operating licences or discharge permits.

The Committee also heard concerns in what FASTA believes to be a significant disparity between pollution incident penalties in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and that alignment between the jurisdictions is required with a multi agency investigation approach to cross border pollution events.

A question and answer session followed, and topics of discussion included:

  • The disparity between penalties in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and concerns that the maximum financial penalty is too low;
  • Concerns that the conviction rate for pollution cases is regarded as too low and that the proposed Fixed penalty system may be viewed as the easier option for repeat offenders;
  • The role of the Loughs Agency and the need for more resources and stronger investigative powers;
  • Concerns lack of connectivity and co-operation between government departments;
  • The impact of Departmental resources issues on the processing of an increasing number of AD applications; and
  • Concerns that the legislation could contribute to a further decline in salmon populations if it facilitates the expansion of offshore salmon farming.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department for the Economy considering it has responsibility for renewable energy initiatives, to enquire about the measures in place to monitor potential gas leakages from offshore green and renewable energy infrastructure; an outline of the monitoring and inspection processes employed, including how potential leaks are detected and assessed, the actions taken in response to any incidents, and the environmental impacts associated with such leakages.

Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting information on the overall source of all pollution in the Loughs Agency area of responsibility.

The Chair thanked the representatives for their attendance.

The FASTA representatives left the meeting at 10:48am

 

The Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Co-operative Society representatives joined the meeting at 10:48am

 

Fisheries, Aquaculture and Water Environment Bill Oral Evidence Session - Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Co-operative Society

This item was recorded by Hansard

The following representatives briefed the Committee:

  • Daniel McNally – General Manager;
  • Jerry McNally - Chairperson; and
  • Dee McElroy – Director

The Committee heard that there are elements of the Bill that the Co-operative would be supportive of and that there is an understanding that some changes are needed to make practices more sustainable.

The Committee also heard there is a need for stronger regulations and resources to address pollution created by slurry from agriculture and wastewater from NI Water which it views as the main cause of the decline of the eel population in Lough Neagh.

The Committee heard that the Co-Operative has existing effective arrangements in place regarding labelling and traceability and that any further regulation in this area would increase the legislative burden on them.

The Committee also heard that the Co-operative wishes to be involved in the legislative design process which it believes would require greater regulatory powers to ensure enforcement, including the need for higher fines.

A question and answer session followed, and topics of discussion included:

  • The lack of confidence the Co-operative has in DAERA scientific research. Including the need for more independent studies to establish the reasons for the current state of Lough Neagh;
  • Concerns that agricultural interests take precedence over environmental issues;
  • The call in some quarters for an Independent Environment Protection agency; and
  • The impact of pollution in Lough Neagh on the eel and tourist industries.

The Chair thanked the representatives for their attendance.

The Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Co-operative Society representatives left the meeting at 11:08am

 

6. End of Session Report - September 2025 - July 2026

The Committee noted it wouldrecord its agreement with the sections of the draft End of Session Report.

Title page, Powers, Membership

Agreed: The Committee was content that the Title page, Committee Powers, and Membership pages stand part of the Report.

Key Activities, Outputs and Achievements

Agreed: The Committee was content that, following an amendment to paragraph 2, replacing the term "district councils" with "councils", the Key Activities, Outputs and Achievements: Primary Legislation paragraphs 1 to 17 stand part of the Report.

Subordinate Legislation

Agreed: The Committee was content that the Subordinate Legislation section at paragraphs 18-25 stand part of the Report.

Legislative Consent Motions

Agreed: The Committee was content that the Legislative Consent Motions of the report at paragraph 26-32 stands part of the Report.

Committee Motions and Inquiries

Agreed: The Committee was contentthat the Committee Motions and Inquiries section of the report at paragraph 33 stand part of the Report.

Policy Scrutiny

Agreed: The Committee was content that, following an amendment to paragraph 51 changing the wording from the Committee being “pleased” to the Committee having “noted”, the Policy Scrutiny section of the Report paragraphs 34 to 82 stand part of the Report.

Budget Scrutiny

Agreed: The Committee was contentthat the Budget Scrutiny section of the report at paragraphs 83-90 stand part of the Report.

Windsor Framework

Agreed: The Committee was contentthat the Windsor Framework section of the report at paragraphs 91-93 stand part of the Report.

Common Frameworks

Agreed: The Committee was contentthat the Common Frameworks section of the report at paragraph 94 stand part of the Report.

Engagement

Agreed: The Committee was contentthat the Engagement section of the report at paragraphs 95-115 stand part of the Report.

Priorities for the Next Session

Agreed: The Committee was contentthat the Priorities for the Next Session section of the report stand part of the Report.

Agreed: The Committee was contentfor the report to be published on the Committee webpages.

 

7. Any Other Business

None

 

8. Date and Time of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 1 October at 10:00am in Room 21, Parliament Buildings.

The meeting was adjourned 11:13am

 

Diana Armstrong MLA,

Chairperson