Debate contribution: Lough Neagh Action Plan
Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on .
- MLA
- Mr Andrew Muir
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 7 September 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Lough Neagh Action Plan
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5670045
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Thank you, Patsy. A range of monitoring takes place on the lough. There is a dashboard available so that people can see that, and it is important that people have access to that information. Fundamentally, however, we need to address the pollution. That is why we have gone out to consult on a revised nutrients action programme, and it is why I seek enhanced regulation and enforcement against sewage pollution, which will end the bye ball that has wrongly been afforded to NI Water. Alongside that, we need to have stronger fines and penalties. I am progressing the legislation, but we also need an independent environmental protection agency. As you know, that has been vetoed by one party. It is a shining example of why there must be reform of the institutions. It is an affront to democracy that an independent environmental protection agency cannot proceed because one party does not like it.
153 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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