'Farmers deserve a minister they can trust, he is no longer that person': Andrew Muir must go, say UUP and TUV

Both parties attacked not only the cattle cull that sparked the crisis, but the department’s decision to set the terms and powers of an investigation into it, instead of allowing a completely independent probe.

TUV leader Jim Allister argued that amounts to Daera "marking its own homework”, stating: “The call from the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) cannot simply be dismissed or ridden out by Andrew Muir.

“He should stop portraying himself as the victim, face up to the consequences of his department’s actions at Fivemiletown and resign.”

For the UUP’s Robbie Butler, the controversial cull was the straw that the broke the camel’s back – evidence of a broken culture that has existed at Daera for some time, but has now been made clear and obvious in the most graphic way possible.

"Farm families across Northern Ireland experience a department that inspects them, polices them and prosecutes them, but no longer appears to understand or support them,” he told the News Letter. “Fivemiletown is what that culture looks like when it plays out in a field in full public view.”

Pointing out that Mr Muir’s reaction to the UFU was to go on the offensive, the Ulster Unionist argued he’d come out swinging against “the organisation that has spoken for this industry for over a century, and farm families it represents”.

He added: “A minister who has lost the confidence of the sector does not win it back by blaming the farmers' own union for the state of agriculture. He should withdraw those remarks and apologise.

“The minister should do the right thing and stand down. This department needs fresh leadership, and the farming community needs a minister it can trust. He is no longer that person.

“Standing down would allow a successor to begin the work of rebuilding a relationship that has been broken on his watch.”

Meanwhile the DUP reinforced that it plans to launch its own vote of no confidence in Mr Muir when Stormont returns, MLA Michelle McIlveen stating: “Farmers are expected to meet exacting standards of accountability. They are entitled to expect the same from Daera.”

The minister has already stated he has no intention of resigning.

The cull of 51 cattle took place in a field near Fivemiletown in June, after a court issued a disposal order against a farmer who had been disqualified for life from keeping, owning or participating in the keeping of animals.

However, critics have questioned whether the cull was necessary – as well as the manner in which it was carried out, as politicians complained people in the area could hear gunshots during the incident.

The Ulster Farmers’ Union had already issued a vote of no confidence in Deara. It has now extended that to Mr Muir, as well as Permanent Secretary Katrina Godfrey and Chief Veterinary Officer Brian Dooher, calling for their immediate resignations.

At a meeting yesterday, the union also concluded that it does not have confidence in the independence of the minister’s review into the Fivemiletown cull.