Andrew Muir has been appointed as Northern Ireland’s newest agriculture minister, in which he will oversee the country’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
He took office on February 3, filling an office that has been suspended since Edwin Poots departed from the role in October 2022.
Muir has been a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly since 2019, and he has served as the Alliance Party chief whip and the Finance and Infrastructure spokesperson.
“DAERA has an extensive and diverse portfolio, which impacts upon us all, including responsibility for protecting and improving our natural environment; farming and food production; animal and plant health; fishing and forest regeneration. It also plays a crucial role in supporting our rural communities,” Muir said in a press release.
“I plan to focus on the full remit of the department, seeking to implement policies and strategies that benefit our climate and environment, while supporting our economically and socially significant agriculture, food and fisheries sectors alongside our important rural communities. I intend to listen to, engage and strive to work with stakeholders and partners in every part of Northern Ireland including North / South and East and West. Together, we can achieve a lot.”
