A Private Members' Bill to reinstate support payments for farmers on areas of natural constraint advanced to committee stage at Stormont. The bill passed its second reading with backing from Sinn Féin, UUP, SDLP, TUV, People Before Profit and independent MLA Claire Sugden.

Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer introduced the legislation. Payments for farmers in challenging conditions ended in 2018.

In County Derry, nearly 1,400 farms operate in areas of natural constraint, said Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin from Ballinascreen. Sheerin stated that such support aids those working in difficult circumstances.

McAleer noted that almost 60 percent of land in his West Tyrone constituency qualifies as severely disadvantaged. Over 90 percent of land in Fermanagh is disadvantaged. The figure exceeds 50 percent in East Derry and 60 percent in East Antrim.

SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan from West Tyrone described these areas as featuring hills, uplands and marginal land. He said farming there serves as a primary livelihood for many residents.

Sheerin added that farmers in these areas collaborate across religious and political lines.