UK-EU veterinary agreement cannot come soon enough – Agriculture Minister Muir

A veterinary agreement between the UK and the EU “can’t come soon enough”, Stormont’s Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has told MLAs.

During ministerial question time at Stormont, Mr Muir also clashed with DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley, who he said had a habit of “attempting to shout down people in this chamber”.

The minister was asked by his Alliance Party colleague Eoin Tennyson for an update on any engagements he had had with the UK Government over an SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) and veterinary agreement with the EU.

Following Brexit, the UK can set its own standards for food safety and plant and animal health.

However, Northern Ireland continues to follow the EU’s rules in this area due to the Windsor Framework.

The UK Government has said it wants to negotiate an SPS agreement to lessen regulatory barriers.

Mr Muir said: “I have had significant engagement with the UK Government on the potential for an SPS veterinary agreement.

“I have been consistent in my messaging to those ministers that this should be an ambitious and comprehensive SPS veterinary agreement and it should benefit Northern Ireland.

“Frankly, it can’t come soon enough.”

Mr Buckley said Mr Muir had been a “leading cheerleader” of the Northern Ireland Protocol, the post-Brexit trading agreement which preceded the Windsor Framework.

He added: “Can I ask the minister does he know whether the protocol he endorsed will enforce Northern Ireland to be subject to the EU-US tariffs or will we enjoy the relationship with the UK which is tariff free?”

Mr Muir said he believed in the “full, faithful and timely” implementation of the Windsor Framework.

He said: “Brexit has been a really, really bad idea for the UK economy.

“The people who are the most vulnerable are feeling the consequences of that.

“I know some people look to President Trump and the United States with glee.”

At this point Principal Deputy Speaker Caral Ni Chuilin asked for no shouting in the chamber while the minister was answering questions.

Mr Muir added: “It is a bit of a trend where Mr Buckley seeks to shout down people in this chamber.

“I look to build relationships with people you can trust, frankly your party has a history of building relationships with people you can’t trust.”

At the conclusion of question time, Mr Muir asked if the Speaker could issue a ruling on the appropriateness of Mr Buckley’s interruptions.

Ms Ni Chuilin said she would pass the issue on to the Speaker.

She added: “You will have observed that I asked for good decorum from everyone, minister.

“I am sure you are fit enough for Jonathan Buckley or anyone else.”