Motion

Recognising the Importance of Food Security

Recognising the Importance of Food Security
That this Assembly notes the importance of food security; believes food production should be recognised as a strategic asset in Northern Ireland; further notes Northern Ireland’s role in feeding 10 million people; celebrates the food and drink sector generating £4.9 billion Gross Value Added to Northern Ireland; stresses that investing in agriculture is essential for boosting productivity, job creation and delivering progress toward more environmentally sustainable practices; expresses grave concern that agri-food businesses face significant trading barriers as a result of the Windsor Framework and the application of EU law; condemns, in particular, the ongoing threat to the critical supply of veterinary medicines from Great Britain from 1 January 2026, as well as uncertainty surrounding new EU rules on deforestation-free products; highlights that this could undermine animal welfare and the resilience of UK-wide food supply chains; notes that current, aspirational climate targets would see a reduction in livestock numbers; believes that perfection cannot prevent progress; calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to urgently bring proposals to the Executive to reduce Northern Ireland’s interim 2030 and 2040 emissions reduction targets in the interests of protecting food security and a just transition for agriculture; and further calls on the Minister to unlock greater levels of on-farm investment and innovation by providing immediate clarity on ammonia controls within planning, in keeping with the Executive’s Programme for Government.
Private Members' Motion
18/11/2025
18/11/2025
01/12/2025
View Official Report


57 Members voted

38 Members voted AYE

19 Members voted NO

The Motion, As Amended, Was Carried, Simple Majority Lobby Division

MLA NameDesignationVoted
Ms Kellie Armstrong OtherAYE
Mr Danny Baker NationalistAYE
Mr John Blair OtherAYE
Mr Cathal Boylan NationalistAYE
Mr Maurice Bradley UnionistNO
Ms Paula Bradshaw OtherAYE
Mr Phillip Brett UnionistNO
Miss Nicola Brogan NationalistAYE
Mr David Brooks UnionistNO
Ms Cheryl Brownlee UnionistNO
Mr Keith Buchanan UnionistNO
Mr Jon Burrows UnionistNO
Mr Robbie Butler UnionistNO
Mrs Pam Cameron UnionistNO
Mr Alan Chambers UnionistNO
Mr Trevor Clarke UnionistNO
Mr Pádraig Delargy NationalistAYE
Mr Stewart Dickson OtherAYE
Mrs Linda Dillon NationalistAYE
Miss Jemma Dolan NationalistAYE
Mr Danny Donnelly OtherAYE
Mr Mark Durkan NationalistAYE
Ms Connie Egan OtherAYE
Mrs Sinéad Ennis NationalistAYE
Mrs Deborah Erskine UnionistNO
Mrs Ciara Ferguson NationalistAYE
Ms Aoife Finnegan NationalistAYE
Mr Paul Frew UnionistNO
Mrs Michelle Guy OtherAYE
Miss Deirdre Hargey NationalistAYE
Mr Harry Harvey UnionistNO
Mr David Honeyford OtherAYE
Mr Declan Kearney NationalistAYE
Mr Gerry Kelly NationalistAYE
Ms Liz Kimmins NationalistAYE
Mr Brian Kingston UnionistNO
Mr Gordon Lyons UnionistNO
Mr Declan McAleer NationalistAYE
Miss Nuala McAllister OtherAYE
Mr Patsy McGlone NationalistAYE
Mr Colin McGrath NationalistAYE
Mr Philip McGuigan NationalistAYE
Miss Michelle McIlveen UnionistNO
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin NationalistAYE
Mr Andrew McMurray OtherAYE
Mr Peter Martin UnionistNO
Mrs Cathy Mason NationalistAYE
Mr Nick Mathison OtherAYE
Mr Gary Middleton UnionistNO
Mr Andrew Muir OtherAYE
Ms Sian Mulholland OtherAYE
Miss Áine Murphy NationalistAYE
Ms Michelle O'Neill NationalistAYE
Ms Aisling Reilly NationalistAYE
Mr Alan Robinson UnionistNO
Mr Pat Sheehan NationalistAYE
Ms Emma Sheerin NationalistAYE

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