AQO 2528/22-27 Oral question to the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs how the R.V. Jocelyn Bell Burnell will assist the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute in carrying out research into the marine environment.
Asked by Eóin Tennyson MLA on 2 October 2025
- Answered
- Oral
- Answered in the Chamber
- Tabled
- 2 October 2025
- Answer due by
- 13 October 2025
- Answered
- 13 October 202511 days after tabling
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Answered in the Assembly Chamber on 13 October 2025. Extract from the Official Report (Hansard), including any supplementary questions:
Mr Deputy Speaker (Dr Aiken)
Minister, you have 30 seconds.
Mr Muir
The research vessel Jocelyn Bell Burnell will give AFBI a step change in how it observes and protects the marine environment. It will be able to gather high-quality data and samples across the marine environment whilst reducing disturbance to marine life and lowering emissions. It will strengthen AFBI and DAERA's ability to understand marine ecosystems, detect climate signals and help the marine industries to adapt. It will also help us join up land and sea, recognising that what happens on land also affects the ocean, and that a healthy ocean, in turn, supports our coasts, climate and economy. With a 30-year design life, the ship equips the next generation of marine scientists and secures the long-term evidence base needed to make sound decisions.
Mr Deputy Speaker (Dr Aiken)
Thank you, Minister. That ends the period for listed questions. We now move on to 15 minutes of topical questions. Topical question 1 has been withdrawn.