To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what progress his Department has made on implementing a ban on setting peat bog fires.

There are currently no plans to implement a ban on setting peat bog fires.

My Department is developing a Peatland Strategy for Northern Ireland, reflecting the commitments in the UK Peatland Strategy and New Decade, New Approach document and will provide a framework for conserving our intact semi-natural peatlands and restoring degraded semi-natural peatlands.

A key action within the draft Strategy is to “Publish a Position Statement on Upland Management, with accompanying new legislation if required”. This Position Statement will clarify my Department’s advice with regard to the use of burning as a management tool for semi-natural peatlands in Northern Ireland.

In addition, my Department continues to develop a strategic way forward in partnership with other stakeholders, such as the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, for tackling the risk of wildfires in the countryside. This includes raising awareness of the risk of wildfires and aiding and responding to wildfire incidents.