Debate contribution: Lough Neagh Report and Action Plan

Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on 2 July 2024.

MLA

Mr Andrew Muir

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

2 July 2024

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Ministerial Statements

Heading

Lough Neagh Report and Action Plan

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4528934

Read the official Assembly record

Text

The RePhoKUs report that I mentioned in my statement details the background to the apportionment data that we have. The report is on the AFBI website, and I encourage Members to look at it to see where the figures came from. I am happy for Members to meet the Chief Scientific Adviser in my Department, who can outline the evidence base behind it, but I am confident of the figures that I provided to the House on the sources of pollution. The key issue is that we need to address pollution. That is about investment in Northern Ireland Water and about the interventions by my Department that I have talked about. SORPI is under review. I have been engaging with officials on that, and we will work through it over the time ahead, because it is not fit for purpose. It is not my or DAERA's role to, essentially, fund DFI and, in turn, Northern Ireland Water for event duration monitors. That is for Northern Ireland Water to take forward with its Minister. The roll-out of event duration monitors would be beneficial, and I will follow up on that with John O'Dowd.

One of the key actions in the report for which I seek Executive approval is an independent review, including consultation, on the sentencing framework for environmental crime and the fines and penalties associated with it. Why is that in the report? It is because I hear that concern day and daily. It is important that we look at it, have an independent review and do a consultation. One of the concerns that I hear regularly comes from angling groups. We have had far too many fish kills in Northern Ireland, not just in recent weeks but in recent months and years, so it is important that we look at the issue and take it forward. A report that does not deal with that issue does not have credibility with me or the public.

An independent review of the issues is a constructive way forward. That review will deal with the relationship between fines and penalties through the criminal justice system and with cross-compliance penalties. We will consider that. I understand the issue. We need to carry out an independent review of the issue. We need to consult on it and consider it. Many people, including me, are not content with the current situation, so let us try to address it.

That is a false assertion, and I reject it. That is not what I am about; I am about working with farmers and everyone here to turn the situation around. It is important that we have resources around enforcement. It is key that the Northern Ireland Environment Agency has the ability to investigate alleged breaches. We are also investing in education, incentivisation and regulation. The Finance Minister and I are doing significant work on the future agriculture budget. We need to assist farmers in the just transition that we are heading towards. That is what we are doing. It is not fair to categorise the task force as the Member did. It does great injustice to the overwhelming majority of farmers, who do a good job, abide by the law and are good custodians of the countryside. It is important that I say that. It is important that people do not misrepresent all farmers with their comments.

I thank the Member for her question. I will have to check my diary to see when that meeting is. If we need to move it forward, we will see whether we can do that. Hopefully, it will be in the near future, because I understand the importance of it. We are limited in relation to grant support schemes within the current vires of my Department. I will continue to engage with people, because many people are affected. I am also limited by the budget that we have and the other challenges that we have around the issues. Let us have that meeting and engage on the issues to see whether we can find a way forward.

I thank the Member for her question. I met the Earl of Shaftesbury, contrary to reports from others, on 21 February this year, and I will meet him later this month. I look forward to that engagement. It is important that we engage on the issue, particularly further to his comments. Frankly, folks, I am in the dark about what is holding up the action plan. I received an email from a DUP Westminster election candidate that states:

"Good afternoon, Minister. I am disappointed to learn that a 30-point plan for addressing the problem with pollution at Lough Neagh has not been progressed. I would be grateful if an update on what is happening with this situation could be provided, including the steps being taken forward to get this moving forward."

I recommend that he speak to his party leader.

That issue is important. Those reports were concerning not just for me but for many people. We are looking at the issue of cumulative breaches. It was stated to me that that is among the issues that we should address. We are actively looking at that.

I thank the Member for his question, and I will follow that up because it would be useful to know that. As I outlined to Deborah, we are actively looking at the governance of Northern Ireland Water and the SORPI. In the context of the report, it is important that I, as Minister, send out the message that we will focus on all sources of pollution. This is focused not just on agriculture but on waste water infrastructure, septic tanks and industry. Everything will be looked at, which is why we are working with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on the SORPI and on how we regulate Northern Ireland Water. It is very important that we do that, so I will follow up on your point and thank you for raising it.

That is one of the cross-cutting actions that falls to the Department for Infrastructure. Hopefully, when we get the report agreed we can outline that in full. The key impediment is funding. The need to fund Northern Ireland Water was discussed yesterday at the Executive, and it is something on which I continue to engage with Minister O'Dowd.

Thank you very much. These issues have been discussed widely in the North/South Ministerial Council. There are great opportunities. As I have said, I will be going down South to see the ASSAP. I am really keen to step this up and get the report published, and then we can work with our colleagues in the South to see what more we can do. To be fair, lots of reports have come out recently and there have been lots of initiatives in the South. They have made really good progress, so I want to garner that knowledge and see how we can use it. Good work is already being done on science and research, which is key. We need science and research to know where we are at the moment and to evaluate the progress that we need to achieve.

I have had very productive discussions with the Finance Minister on that. We are on the same page and intend to make joint representations to the UK Government on that. There have been further developments in formulating our engagement. Obviously, there will be new Ministers on Friday, no matter what party is returned to government. It is important that we support our farmers and agriculture in Northern Ireland. A key element of that is enabling them to achieve a just transition, and part of that is the funding that we provide to assist with that. I am on the side of farmers, and the Finance Minister and I are working together to ensure that they can be properly funded and assisted in the work that they do. That shows the benefit of Ministers working together to deliver for everyone in Northern Ireland.

I read the editorial of the 'News Letter' on Friday. It ended by stating:

"There is no inconsistency in adopting those pro farming stances while also saying that any business of any description that has, even if just through negligence rather than with intent, played a major part in the pollution of Lough Neagh must know that it will face severe fines – and it must know that soon, so that this huge environmental problem can ... be alleviated."

That is what the editorial of the 'News Letter' said on Friday. I value all opinions on the matter. It is clear that there is a strong public will to address the issues. That is what the 'News Letter' says about the enforcement piece, and that is an important contribution. However, my heart, soul and passion are about ensuring that such pollution incidents do not occur in the first place. How do we do that? We do it through education, engagement, incentivisation and regulation. Resorting to enforcement is a sign of failure. Let us get the report agreed and get a balanced approach. There is nothing to fear from the report and everything to gain.

Yes, 100%. I agree entirely with every word that the Member has said. We need to get funding to assist farmers to make changes. The overwhelming majority are doing a good job. We are talking about enforcement for those who contravene the law. We need to assist farmers in the journey ahead. I stand with them. That is why I am working with the Finance Minister on representations to the UK Government to get funding for technologies to achieve the transition. Earlier today, we talked to the Chair and Deputy Chair about the available technologies and the need to roll them out much faster because I have seen a real thirst for change. A journey has already been undertaken in agriculture. I want to support people on that journey. We need to go fast, and we need to change. I understand that the pace and scale of change is significant for people. I understand the nervousness and concern around that. Part of today's statement is to address that, so that people understand that I am on their side. We are focused on change. None of us wants to see the scenes that we have seen in Lough Neagh reoccurring. Let us get it fixed. Let us work together on the issues and get the report and action plan agreed. It could not be agreed yesterday, but let us get it agreed next week and let us move on to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland.

I will not respond to the comment about my party leader, for whom I have the greatest respect and who is acting entirely in line with her legal responsibilities on that issue. It is important that we fund all interventions on Lough Neagh. It is disappointing that not everyone in the Executive was able to support the funding requirements for Lough Neagh as part of the Budget process. In this place, we are good at telling everyone what the problem is. We need to focus on coming together and turning the situation around. If people have found it difficult to support what is in the report, hopefully today will bring them a bit closer to being able to say that the report provides a balanced approach that works with people to turn the situation around. The ultimate measure of achievement will be us being able to say at the end of the mandate that we were able not only to turn the environmental situation round but to give hope and confidence to the agricultural community in Northern Ireland. I think that we can do that, because I see that in the farming community in Northern Ireland. Let us put aside our particular views, focus on solutions and resolve the situation.

A wide mix of suggestions has come through, and officials will work through those suggestions. It is important that we allow that process to be undertaken. The Committee will be aware of some that have come through. Some may have more merit than others, and it is important that we evaluate those. It is also important to put it on the record that there are no quick fixes. We need to go to the fundamental causes of this rather than the initiatives that are about dealing with the outcome of the problem.

I have engaged with a range of stakeholders and will engage with them going forward, and I am aware of the concerns that you have raised. I have also been invited to a Lough Neagh eel supper, and I look forward to taking up that invitation. I have been told that it is something to be enjoyed, and I look forward to attending that.

2,140 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 10:56 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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