DUP MLA tables motion of no confidence in Stormont minister Andrew Muir

A no confidence motion has been tabled against Stormont Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir.

It comes after the Alliance politician was criticised last month following controversy over the shooting of 51 cows in June.

The cattle were culled by Mr Muir’s department on land near Fivemiletown following a court order which disqualified the herd owner from keeping animals.

But concern was raised by some political representatives and farmers about the public nature of the incident and questions have been posed about whether all options were exhausted before the cows were shot.

DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley said the incident at Fivemiletown was “the last straw for many”.

He said his motion, which he tabled on Monday, has already received support from “several parties”.

Speaking in the Assembly on Monday, Mr Muir said the operation at Fivemiletown was neither authorised nor directed by him, that he has ordered an independent external review and is “committed to full transparency in relation to it”.

“If mistakes have been made by officials, they must be identified and lessons must be learnt,” he said.

Mr Muir also added that he felt much of the reaction in recent weeks is “not around the situation in Fivemiletown”, but that “some people have not wanted me in this position since the day and hour I took it up because I believe in the environment and climate action”.

In a statement on Tuesday, Mr Buckley urged other parties to back his motion.

He said: “The frustration and anger amongst the agricultural industry was evident when farmers gathered at Stormont last month.

“Events surrounding the cull of cattle near Fivemiletown and how that situation was handled proved to be the last straw for many and any remaining confidence was lost.”

He added: “This is not an issue bound by constitutional or political lines and I would appeal to MLAs from across the Assembly chamber to support this motion.”

Responding, Alliance DAERA spokesperson John Blair accused the DUP of “yet another political stunt designed to distract from their own tribulations”.

“Jonathan Buckley clearly doesn’t like a Minister who takes his climate and environmental responsibilities seriously, unlike his DUP predecessors who treated Northern Ireland as an environmental sacrifice zone,” he said.

“Minister Muir won’t be dictated to by any single lobby group. He engages with all fairly and continues to work tirelessly to deliver across the full remit of his department, striving to turn around the perilous state of our environment given to us by successive DUP Ministers.”

Mr Blair added: “Minister Muir did not authorise or sanction the Fivemiletown operation.

“He has recognised the concerns around how the operation was conducted and moved quickly to undertake an external review.

“He will not be found wanting in ensuring any learnings are both identified and fully implemented, and he has the full confidence and support of myself and my Alliance colleagues.”