Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister calls out ‘homophobia, racism and misogyny’ over NAP proposal

Northern Ireland’s Agriculture Minister has slammed “vile homophobic, racist and misogynistic” comments on social media in opposition to his department’s proposed Nutrients Action Programme.Andrew Muir was pressed to abandon the proposed plan for 2026-29 which is currently out for consultation during questions for his department in the Assembly on Tuesday.He was warned the proposals, aimed at improving water quality and the wider environment by reducing and preventing pollution caused or induced by nutrients from agricultural sources, could destroy the farming industry.

Opponents to the plan have argued that the measures currently proposed could devastate agriculture, reduce livestock numbers and undermine food security.They have called on Mr Muir to bring forward a policy based on genuine partnership rather than punitive policies which risk the viability of our agricultural industryMr Muir told MLAs there is a requirement arising from the Lough Neagh Action Plan and also the Environmental Improvement Plan to review the Nutrients Action Plan.He said it is about ensuring both financial and environmental sustainability, and emphasised they are currently undertaking a consultation on draft proposals, and that no final decisions have been taken.Mr Muir also expressed concern that there is “a lot of misinformation” around the proposals, and said the social media commentary around the plan in recent weeks has been "disgraceful”.“There’s been misogynistic comments against officials in my department,” he said.“There’s been racist comments in relation to people that we are very, very fortunate to have working within our agri-food sector.“And 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 consultation on the revised Nutrients Action Programme 2026-2029 is set to continue to July 24 2025.

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