This comes after former Justice Minister Claire Sugden warned of an "ominous trend" developing with livestock thefts in the East Derry area.
Police record any robbery, burglary or theft offence where the property or vehicles stolen has a link to farming - including both equipment and livestock. And just weeks earlier, police said 50 Texel and Suffolk-bred ewe lambs, with orange markings, had been taken from a field on Teenaght Road near Claudy sometime between 7pm on January 25 and 7am on January 26.
With Stormont now back up and running, and a new Environment Minister in place, she asked Mr Muir: "What role his Department plays, or can play, in preventing livestock thefts; and assisting with subsequent prosecutions, particularly in East Londonderry." "My Department has a strong working relationship with the PSNI and will cooperate with the them in respect of any relevant investigations of livestock theft, as necessary."
"Since 2010, electronic identification has been required for sheep and goats, however, there are currently no plans to roll this out to any further livestock species."