Assembly motion recognises Lough Neagh ‘crisis’

THE NI Executive has been urged to deliver on its promise to safeguard Lough Neagh.

Mid Ulster SDLP MLA, Patsy McGlone, was speaking after the Assembly backed an opposition motion brought forward by his party to recognise the crisis at the Lough.

The motion further called on Environment Minister Andrew Muir to introduce legislation establishing an independent Environmental Protection Agency by the end of the Assembly mandate.

Mr McGlone said, “In the past few days with the spell of hot weather we are already seeing signs of the re-emergence of the toxic algae blooms which wreaked such havoc over the past year, killing wildlife, destroying biodiversity and impacting local businesses.

“The reasons for the ecological crisis at the Lough are well-worn, but it is deeply disappointing that we stand here again on the brink of another summer where little has been done to address these issues.

“Parties have been clear on the need to act to protect the long-term future of the Lough.

“One of the AERA Minister’s first visits after assuming office was to the Lough, but we need action if we are going to save this precious resource. Protecting our environment should be a priority for every department and there needs to be ownership of this issue from the entire Executive.

“The SDLP has been calling for an independent Environmental Protection Agency for well over a decade and it was agreed as part of New Decade, New Approach.

“What we have been doing up until this point clearly isn’t working and it is our view that an independent body will give us the best chance of safeguarding our natural resources like Lough Neagh.”

The UUP’s Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Tom Elliott welcomed the motion but highlighted that algae is widespread throughout the UK in places that have an Environmental Protection Agency, but it hasn’t stopped it.

He said, “What we don’t want to see is a plethora of agencies in Northern Ireland, allowing one to blame the other.

“We we need is a proper, structured review as soon as possible to see what agencies we don’t need, how we can change their power or responsibilities, then if that requires an Environmental Protection Agency, then let’s do it.

“But I can tell you, it will not stop the algae.”

Describing Lough Neagh as “a treasured gem of our landscape,” Sinn Fein’s Mid Ulster MLA Linda Dillon said that there was ‘no doubt’ that we are in the midst of an ecological crisis.

Mrs Dillon said, “Whilst I would like to acknowledge the hard work of the Lough Neagh Partnership, things are no better in the water.

“We have major population declines in fish and entire species that are gone forever.

“Animals are facing extinction. We need to see the urgent development of an all-Ireland bio diversity strategy.

“A protection agency would most definitely serve as an ‘angel of lough’ and drive positive change.”