Andrew Muir to request use of 'urgent procedure' to approve Lough Neagh plan

Minister Andrew Muir says he is seeking "the use of urgent procedure to approve" his Lough Neagh action plan as it's unlikely the Executive will meet this week. MLAs break at the end of next week for summer term, but the report has still not been rubber stamped.

The Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs urged parties to come together to agree the plan "get it published" and "give people hope".

During question time about the North South Ministerial Council Environment meeting, he told MLAs: "The Lough Neagh report and action plan['s] real primary focus is on water quality issues in the lough.

READ MORE: Lough Neagh blue-green algae spread now visible from the sky

READ MORE: DUP ministers holding back plan to 'fix' Lough Neagh

"We need to get the Lough Neagh report and action plan agreed, let's get it published, let's give people hope that we can deliver for the citizens of Northern Ireland and we can turn this situation around.

"I am very aware of the scenes that have been reported today in terms of blue-green algae on Lough Neagh. This Assembly and Executive has been re-established, let's use these institutions to deliver good for the people of Northern Ireland.

"I am very disappointed it looks unlikely there will be an Executive meeting this Thursday to agree that report and action plan," he added.

"Time is not on our side in relation to this and as a result I will be writing to the First and Deputy First Minister requesting the use of urgent procedure to approve the report and action plan.

"If the Executive meeting does not occur this week and if urgent procedure is not granted I will have to consider my options in relation to this because the issue associated with blue-green algae at Lough Neagh is a matter of extreme concern for me.

"This is a real problem. We need to act in relation to it and I will have to explore every way that my department can take the actions that are necessary before this."

Minister Muir said the report and plan are based around "four pillars... education, investment and incentivisation but also regulation and enforcement".

"It's a very balanced approach and it's an approach that I feel we should take forward in relation to this. We all can be part of the solution... but we need to take action in regards to this issue."

He added that if the Executive doesn't meet this week, "hopefully urgent approval will be given to the Lough Neagh report and action plan."

We reported last week how DUP ministers are holding back the Lough Neagh plan.

Alliance Party's Eoin Tennyson told the Assembly: "Every party in this chamber has called for a plan to tackle the issues in Lough Neagh, indeed it appeared in the DUP manifesto."

The Minister said he was urged to take more feedback from stakeholders, which he did, but he added that enforcement is part of the balanced approach he plans to take.

"What I am not going to do is shy away from difficult decisions," he added.

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