Latest news with #AndrewMuir
Belfast Telegraph
4 hours ago
- General
- Belfast Telegraph
NI minister slams ‘vile homophobic, racist and misogynistic' comments on social media over Nutrients Action Programme
Andrew Muir was pressed to abandon the proposed plan for 2026-29 which is currently out for consultation during questions for his department in the Assembly on Tuesday. He was warned the proposals, aimed at improving water quality and the wider environment by reducing and preventing pollution caused or induced by nutrients from agricultural sources, could destroy the farming industry. Opponents to the plan have argued that the measures currently proposed could devastate agriculture, reduce livestock numbers and undermine food security. They have called on Mr Muir to bring forward a policy based on genuine partnership rather than punitive policies which risk the viability of our agricultural industry Mr Muir told MLAs there is a requirement arising from the Lough Neagh Action Plan and also the Environmental Improvement Plan to review the Nutrients Action Plan. He said it is about ensuring both financial and environmental sustainability, and emphasised they are currently undertaking a consultation on draft proposals, and that no final decisions have been taken. Mr Muir also expressed concern that there is 'a lot of misinformation' around the proposals, and said the social media commentary around the plan in recent weeks has been disgraceful'. 'There's been misogynistic comments against officials in my department,' he said. 'There's been racist comments in relation to people that we are very, very fortunate to have working within our agri-food sector. 'And not for a very long time have I seen such vile homophobic comments about myself. I am a gay man, and I am proud to be a gay man, and it has no relevance whatsoever to the Nutrients Action Programme nor my ability to do this job.' The consultation on the revised Nutrients Action Programme 2026-2029 is set to continue to July 24 2025.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Muir hits out at pollution plan 'misinformation'
Stormont's agriculture minister has hit out at what he has called "misinformation" over his department's plans to reduce water pollution which have faced criticism from some in the agri-food sector. Northern Ireland's long-overdue Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) for 2026-29 was published for consultation last month. Many of the proposals are linked to the Lough Neagh Action Plan. Some political parties and farming unions have argued the plans are out of touch with the reality of agriculture. But on Tuesday, Andrew Muir said they were draft proposals with final decisions yet to be taken. Speaking in the Assembly the minister also criticised as "disgraceful" recent commentary on social media about the issue. "I have seen misogynistic comments against officials in my department, there have been racist comments in relation to people that we are very, very fortunate to have working in our agri-food sector. "Not for a very long time have I seen such vile homophobic comments about myself. I am a gay man and I am proud to be a gay man and it has no relevance whatsoever to the Nutrients Action Programme nor my ability to do this job." The minister went on to say: "Some of the comments made towards me - I'm thick enough to be able to take that, it was shocking and I have not seen something like that since the 1990s, but some of the comments for example in terms of foreign nationals working in agri-food, I just thought that was beneath contempt and I think it's important we call this out here. "We can have a rational discussion around these things but we should not descend into that, and some of the comments against officials are wrong." The leader of the Opposition, SDLP assembly member Matthew O'Toole said it was "utterly disgusting" and the minister had the opposition's support in calling it out, while the DUP's Gary Middleton said the social media comments against the minister and his officials were unacceptable. Farmers say NI pollution proposals 'out of touch'
BBC News
8 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Andrew Muir hits out at pollution plan 'misinformation'
Stormont's agriculture minister has hit out at what he has called "misinformation" over his department's plans to reduce water pollution which have faced criticism from some in the agri-food Ireland's long-overdue Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) for 2026-29 was published for consultation last month. Many of the proposals are linked to the Lough Neagh Action Plan. Unionist parties and farming unions have argued the plans are out of touch with the reality of on Tuesday, Andrew Muir said they were draft proposals with final decisions yet to be taken. 'Vile homophobic comments' Speaking in the Assembly the minister also criticised as "disgraceful" recent commentary on social media about the issue."I have seen misogynistic comments against officials in my department, there have been racist comments in relation to people that we are very, very fortunate to have working in our agri-food sector."Not for a very long time have I seen such vile homophobic comments about myself. I am a gay man and I am proud to be a gay man and it has no relevance whatsoever to the Nutrients Action Programme nor my ability to do this job." 'Utterly disgusting' The minister went on to say: "Some of the comments made towards me - I'm thick enough to be able to take that, it was shocking and I have not seen something like that since the 1990s, but some of the comments for example in terms of foreign nationals working in agri-food, I just thought that was beneath contempt and I think it's important we call this out here."We can have a rational discussion around these things but we should not descend into that, and some of the comments against officials are wrong."The leader of the Opposition, SDLP assembly member Matthew O'Toole said it was "utterly disgusting" and the minister had the opposition's support in calling it out, while the DUP's Gary Middleton said the social media comments against the minister and his officials were unacceptable.
Belfast Telegraph
8 hours ago
- General
- Belfast Telegraph
NI minister slams ‘vile homophobic, racist and misogynistic' on social media over Nutrients Action Programme
Northern Ireland's agriculture minister has slammed 'vile homophobic, racist and misogynistic' comments on social media in opposition to his department's proposed Nutrients Action Programme. Andrew Muir was pressed to abandon the proposed plan for 2026-29 which is currently out for consultation during questions for his department in the Assembly on Tuesday. He was warned the proposals, aimed at improving water quality and the wider environment by reducing and preventing pollution caused or induced by nutrients from agricultural sources, could destroy the farming industry. Opponents to the plan have argued that the measures currently proposed could devastate agriculture, reduce livestock numbers and undermine food security. They have called on Mr Muir to bring forward a policy based on genuine partnership rather than punitive policies which risk the viability of our agricultural industry Mr Muir told MLAs there is a requirement arising from the Lough Neagh Action Plan and also the Environmental Improvement Plan to review the Nutrients Action Plan. He said it is about ensuring both financial and environmental sustainability, and emphasised they are currently undertaking a consultation on draft proposals, and that no final decisions have been taken. Mr Muir also expressed concern that there is 'a lot of misinformation' around the proposals, and said the social media commentary around the plan in recent weeks has been disgraceful'. 'There's been misogynistic comments against officials in my department,' he said. 'There's been racist comments in relation to people that we are very, very fortunate to have working within our agri-food sector. 'And not for a very long time have I seen such vile homophobic comments about myself. I am a gay man, and I am proud to be a gay man, and it has no relevance whatsoever to the Nutrients Action Programme nor my ability to do this job.' The consultation on the revised Nutrients Action Programme 2026-2029 is set to continue to July 24 2025.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Health
- RTÉ News
Ban on sale of single-use vapes comes into effect in NI
A ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes comes into effect in Northern Ireland today. It means that for a time at least there will be different approaches on both sides of the border. In the Republic, the Government is drafting equivalent legislation, but it is not ready yet. Notification to the EU will also delay implementation for a number of months. The Irish Heart Foundation has said while the situation persists children in the north are being better protected than those in the south and wants the Government to fast-track the law. The cabinet agreed to implement a ban last year, but work was interrupted when the Dáil was dissolved for the election. The new law in Northern Ireland makes it a criminal offence to sell or supply single-use vapes with a maximum penalty of up to two years in jail and a fine. Businesses have been given six months to prepare for the change by selling existing stock. Similar laws are being enacted by devolved administrations in England, Wales and Scotland today too, effectively making it a UK-wide ban. It is estimated that five million disposable vapes are thrown away in the UK every week. Stormont Environment Minister Andrew Muir said it was a "milestone day". He said the Executive had been prompted to act by the environmental and health risks posed by single-use vapes. Many are littered by users, and the product has proven popular with young teenagers who sometimes progress to tobacco products. Paper stickers, which users must remove to activate the vape are routinely stuck on litter bins creating an unsightly mess. There have also been concerns that the multitude of flavours and the branding is marketing the products at children. "The environmental consequences around this are significant. We're also very aware that in terms of disposable vapes they can be much more attractive for younger people, and we want to be able to tackle that," Minister Muir said. Research in Northern Ireland shows that one in five of 11–16-year-olds have tried vapes, even though the legal age for purchase is 18. The Irish Heart Foundation said it had taken a considerable period to get agreement on a single use vapes ban over the line in the Republic, and it now wanted to make sure there was rapid progress. Director of advocacy with the Irish Heart Foundation Chris Macey said: "We're sort of lagging a bit behind. I suppose our concerns is that it took years to get the ban on the sale of vapes to U-18s over the line and we just want to make sure there's no undue delay on this occasion because as long as there is children in this part of the country won't be as well protected as children in the north." Mr Macey added: "Disposable vapes have been a big contributor to the explosion of youth vaping in Ireland and everything that goes with that, the nicotine addiction that is seen by research to be a likely gateway into smoking, which is still killing 12 people a day in Ireland." Mr Macey said research showed that children who vape are three to five times more likely to end up smoking, and statistics showed that around a third of 15-16-year-olds in the Republic have vaped.
