Part of Ministerial Statements – in the Northern Ireland Assembly am 11:15 am ar 25 Mehefin 2024.
I thank the Member for his question. Water quality in Lough Neagh was discussed in some depth at the meeting, because we face challenges on a North/South basis. We looked at the interventions that have been made in the South and at research issues. As part of that, we updated attendees at the NSMC on the efforts that have been progressing to finalise and publish the Lough Neagh report and action plan.
I am disappointed that it looks unlikely that there will be an Executive meeting on Thursday to agree that report and action plan. Time is not on our side, and, as a result, I will write to the First Minister and the deputy First Minister to request the use of urgent procedure to approve the report and action plan. If the Executive meeting does not occur this week and urgent procedure is not granted, I will have to consider my options, because the blue-green algae issue at Lough Neagh is of extreme concern to me. It is a real problem, and we need to act on it. I will have to explore every way in which my Department can take the necessary actions.
It is important that I take the opportunity to outline the approach that should be taken. I have said in the Chamber that it is based on four pillars: education; investment and incentivisation; regulation; and enforcement. That is a balanced approach and one that we should take. We can all be part of the solution, but we need to take action. The Executive will hopefully meet this week. If they do not, the Lough Neagh report and action plan will hopefully be given urgent approval. The Executive need to step up and back me on the actions that I need to take.