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."

First Minister Michelle O'Neill said abuse directed to the minister and his staff is "disgraceful".

"There must always be space for open and honest debate on policy, but there is absolutely no place for homophobia, racism, or misogyny," she posted on social media platform, X.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)'s Gary Middleton said the social media comments against the minister and his officials were unacceptable.

The leader of the Opposition, Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) assembly member Matthew O'Toole, said it was "utterly disgusting" and the minister had the opposition's support in calling it out.