Debate contribution: Lough Neagh

Debate contribution by Mr Daniel McCrossan on 9 September 2025.

MLA

Mr Daniel McCrossan

Party at the time

Social Democratic and Labour Party

Date

9 September 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Lough Neagh

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5086798

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Mr Speaker. This was a fascinating debate. Not only did some Members manage to sectarianise it by labelling farmers under their religion but we had the Gospel cited. Nigel Farage also made an appearance. There has therefore been quite a mixture of opinions shared today. Let me be clear from the outset, however, that what is happening at Lough Neagh is nothing short of an environmental disaster. It is an emergency that has been years in the making, caused by weak enforcement, failed leadership and an Executive who are more interested in managing headlines than fixing the problems that we face. Some Executive parties come before the cameras promising everything, particularly in the run-up to an election. They talk about the urgency of fixing Lough Neagh, the responsibility that needs to be taken and the leadership that must be shown, Then, when the election dust has settled, they walk through the doors of the Chamber and look the other way. They vote against and attempt to block consultations that will allow feedback to go to the Minister and the Department to make an informed decision about the appropriate way forward. They choose politics and virtue signalling over the environment and scaremongering and Trump's fake news over fact. That is the reality of how the Executive function. Indeed, the DUP talked about farmers for a fair bit of the debate. All of us recognise the vital role that farmers play in each and all our communities. Let me be clear, however, that it was the DUP that stoked farmers' tensions and wound them up to the hilt about the consultation, so much so that a lot of the things that were said were not wholly accurate. The consultation has gone ahead, however, and the Minister was right to ignore the petty politicking of some parties in the House. Let me reaffirm something as an MLA for a rural constituency: farmers are the backbone of our rural economy and our rural community. They face massive challenges, and absolutely do since the bonkers Brexit that the DUP supported. They deserve support and fairness, but they also deserve honesty from the DUP, which they are not getting. They also know, perhaps better than anyone, that a poisoned Lough Neagh helps no one. Farmers understand that sustainability is the only way in which to ensure that the next generation can continue to work and live off the land. It is not just a failure of the farming community but a multifaceted, complex mess in which many people have contributed to the disastrous situation. It is therefore not about pointing the finger at farmers, or even at NI Water, but about taking action to resolve the crisis. The crisis is not theoretical. It is not distant. The crisis is choking the largest freshwater lake on these islands with toxic blue-green algae. It is human-induced blue-green algae. Fisheries have been forced to close, tourism businesses are collapsing and families are being told not to swim in what was once a beautiful lough, not to walk dogs near it and not to touch the water. Wildlife is being wiped out. This is real. It is happening, and, unless the Executive wise up and take action, it will be their legacy for future generations to learn about.

I will not. I have a lot to get through. Yet what do some Executive parties do in the face of that? The DUP, Sinn Féin and the UUP lined up to vote against the nutrients action programme consultation. Let us be crystal clear: it was a consultation, and anyone who does not understand the definition of a consultation should not be in the House. It was not a law. It was not a regulation. It was not a policy. It was a chance for farmers, communities, scientists, business owners and everybody to have their say. What is so terrifying about listening to people, something that some parties do not do well? What is so threatening about consultation? Yet instead of engaging, Sinn Féin tripped over themselves to get into the Lobby with the DUP and UUP to collapse that process. That was not just a mistake; that was a shameful misjudgement, particularly given that the First Minister lives in the constituency that is directly affected by it. That was a major betrayal of the public, who depend on us to show leadership. While the virtue signalling continued, the Sinn Féin Infrastructure Department is content to stand back while raw sewage continues to flow into the lough. Eighteen months after the return of the Assembly, we have had no solutions or any plan put forward. That is not acceptable; it is indefensible. It shows the wider failure of an Executive who refuse to act as one, refuse to govern with urgency and refuse to face up to their responsibilities. Delay is not neutral. Every week that we wait, the algae spread further; every year that we delay, the damage deepens. This is not a short-term inconvenience. If Lough Neagh collapses, it will be a generational catastrophe that this Executive have done very little about. Jobs, tourism, wildlife, heritage and livelihoods will be destroyed. The question to the Executive parties is simple: do you want to be remembered as the Executive who sat back while the UK and Ireland's largest lake died before our eyes or do you want to be remembered as the Executive who took responsibility, took the tough decisions, showed courage and saved it? For the SDLP's part, we will not stand quietly back while others play politics with something so precious. We will not allow Sinn Féin, the DUP and the UUP to pretend that they are acting in the public interest while they look and vote the other way. The House and the Executive should be demanding immediate action from the Department for Infrastructure and the Minister to stop sewage flowing into the lough. That is an action within the gift of power of Sinn Féin and the First Minister, because today, after this debate, the First Minister can go and ask her Sinn Féin Finance Minister to fund her Infrastructure Minister for NI Water. That is a good starting point. Take action. Do not just speak about it, do something. Also, while that conversation is happening, please tell Minister O'Dowd to respond to the call by Minister Muir to fund his Department to resolve this problem. Sticking plasters will not work. We also need proper sanctions in place that will deter polluters and ensure diligence at all times when they are on their land or when NI Water is instructed to stop pumping sewage into that lough. Colleagues, this is not about left or right, unionist or nationalist, as some would have you believe. This is about whether a Government work; this is about whether they fail. Right now, on Lough Neagh, the Executive are failing miserably. I say it again: no more promises by Ministers in front of the cameras or in the Assembly, no more hollow words and no more excuses. If you have committed in your manifestos to solving this problem, you need to do something about it. As the Opposition, we are going to ensure that your feet are held firmly to the fire in that regard. What is happening in Lough Neagh is unforgivable. People can dress it up in whatever way they like. I must say that Mr Buckley gave a first-class performance. If the Assembly ever collapses again, he will not even need to apply to the West End. He is guaranteed a job in the London Palladium for what he did here earlier.

I will give you a reference. We need to act now to deal with this very serious crisis. People are counting on us. It is not just about those who are contributing to the problem; it is about the wider impact that it is having on all our communities. That has been referenced here today. People cannot live in their homes. My God, is that acceptable in today's age? No, it is not. We can all take steps to resolve the problem. I implore the Executive to work together, use the powers and functions that they have within their control and resolve the problem now, before it is too late.

1,386 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 13:05 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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