MLA Calls for Speaker's Intervention in 'Extremism' Accusation

Stormont Speaker Edwin Poots to Rule on 'Extremism' Accusation

Stormont Speaker Edwin Poots has been asked to rule on whether comments made by DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley represent a 'personal attack' on Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister, Andrew Muir. Speaking in the Assembly on Monday, the Upper Bann MLA hit out at the Minister's Nutrient Action Programme which he described as 'a battering ram aimed at the heart of our agricultural heritage.' Concerns have been raised across the political spectrum about the impact the proposals, which are currently out for public consultation, could have on farmers in Northern Ireland. Speaking during a Members Statement, Jonathan Buckley accused the Minister of treating farmers 'like villains' and of 'environmental extremism'.

Accusations During Assembly Sessions

'Do the Alliance Party think for one moment that the farmer is in any way bluffed by warm words in Wellington boots at Balmoral shows and on departmental Twitter feeds?' he asked. 'They're long used to the smell of manure that's coming from this minister's media commentary. They know that this minister wouldn't know the difference between salad and silage, and it's time he was left in the field before he ruins the entire crop.' Later on, during a statement from the Minister on the British-Irish Council Environment Ministerial meeting, which Minister Muir attended alongside Junior Ministers Aisling Reilly and Pam Cameron, Mr Buckley accused the minister of having 'zero self-awareness' of the strains facing the agricultural sector in NI. Following the discussion, Alliance MLA John Blair raised a point of order in which he asked the speaker to rule on whether it was appropriate for Mr Buckley to mention the Minister's attire or to accuse him of being an extremist and whether the comments represented a 'personal attack' on Minister Muir. Responding to the Point of Order, Mr Buckley asked the Speaker if it would be appropriate for him to receive the exact words that Mr Blair found offensive, stating, 'I have not one clue what on earth he has just said.' Mr Poots agreed to review a transcript of the proceedings with his stay and consider it 'in due course with cool heads.' For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our politics newsletter here.