Belfast Lough 'could be' next Lough Neagh if waste water infrastructure not sorted, warns minister
Stormont's minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural affairs has told UTV that "Belfast Lough, that could become the next Lough Neagh" if waste water infrastructure in Northern Ireland is not sorted.
Andrew Muir's comments come as campaigners around Lough Neagh fear a return of blue-green algae amid ongoing high weather temperatures.
According to data collected by the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology there have been a total of four confirmed reports of the toxic blooms in NI so far this year.
A significant drop from the same time scale last year, when official reports of blue-green algae hit 18.
In July 2024, the DAERA minister proposed a 37-point action plan to tackle the issue.
It was signed off by the executive and contained a number of measures, 21 of which his department could take on immediately but others required cross departmental agreement.
The bacteria grows under certain conditions including, warm, shallow, undisturbed, nutrient-rich surface waters that get a lot of sun exposure.
The nutrient density is a result of pollution.
The minister is currently seeking views on proposals which would see more stringent rules for farmers around slurring spreading - something which those within the agri-sector have said is out of touch and does not take into consideration the actions they have taken to date.
Speaking to UTV, Minister Muir said: "If people have other solutions im all ears, no final decision has been made. "Difficult interventions are going to be required to turn the situation around not just Lough Neagh but at many other rivers, lakes and loughs
"Research that's been published says that about 62% is due to agriculture in terms of water quality, 24% in terms of waste water, and 12% in relation to septic tanks, and the Nutrients Action Programme seeks to tackle that 62% and I know there are difficult proposals in there, but I've always been clear that we need to face up to difficult decisions."
When it was put to the minister that farmers are not in agreement with some of the proposals, he replied: "I have been engaging with farmers during the Balmoral Show and I'll continue to do that as i know thee are challenges in the industry, there are so many issues, and I'm fighting the corner for farmers, where it's about relation to inheritance tax or many other issues and I'll continue to engage with them on this as we need to work together so we can reduce the amount of slurry that's going into our rivers and loughs."
The minister added that the consultation around the proposals has now been extended for a further four weeks "to allow more time for farmers to respond" and "present any alternative solutions, no final decisions have been made.'
In relation to the 24% caused by sewage pollution, Mr Muir said "it's a real concern for me".
"We're standing here on the shores of Belfast Lough, that could become the next Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland if we don't sort out the situation with regards waste water infrastructure.
"That responsibility for investment sits with another minister, but enforcement and regulation sits with me and I'm seeking to take much tighter approach around that."
In a statement, NI Water told UTV: 'Whilst NI Water is not the biggest contributor to pollution, it fully recognises that it does not achieve the environmental standards it would like to, but doing so requires sustained investment and, unfortunately, that level of investment has not been available.
"That is why NI Water would welcome an agreed, cross departmental transition plan to achieve the improved environmental performance we aspire to.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
6 hours ago
- The Independent
Alliance leader says abuse ‘unacceptable' as colleague targeted
Alliance Party leader Naomi Long has described homophobic abuse that one of party colleagues was subjected to as 'despicable'. Earlier this week Stormont Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir said he had experienced 'vile homophobic comments' and spoke out about misogynistic remarks directed at some of his officials, as well as racism against workers in the agri-food sector recently on social media. It comes during heated opposition from the farming community to Mr Muir's proposed Nutrients Action Programme 2026-2029 which is currently out for consultation. Mr Muir has been urged to scrap the proposals which are aimed at improving water quality and the wider environment by reducing and preventing pollution caused or induced by nutrients from agricultural sources. Opponents say the proposals could devastate agriculture, reduce livestock numbers and undermine food security. Speaking to media in Belfast on Wednesday, Ms Long urged constructive engagement around policy. 'I think it's despicable that any politician in any role is subjected to the kind of abuse, threat, intimidation that we see commonplace now being directed at politicians, and what Andrew has been subjected to in particular is appalling and unacceptable,' she said. ' People have a right to disagree with Andrew's policy, they have a right to disagree with his direction of travel as minister, they do not have a right to harass, intimidate, threaten and abuse him, and there needs to be a clear line drawn between the two. 'A constructive engagement around policy, around practice, is entirely reasonable. Abuse is unacceptable.' Speaking in the Assembly on Tuesday, Mr Muir contended there is 'a lot of misinformation' around the proposals, adding that social media commentary has been 'disgraceful'. 'There's been misogynistic comments against officials in my department,' he said. 'There's been racist comments in relation to people that we are very, very fortunate to have working within our agri-food sector. 'And not for a very long time have I seen such vile homophobic comments about myself. 'I am a gay man, and I am proud to be a gay man, and it has no relevance whatsoever to the Nutrients Action Programme nor my ability to do this job.' Disappointment was expressed at the social media comments referred to across the chamber, including from Opposition leader Matthew O'Toole, Sinn Fein MLA Aoife Finnegan, UUP MLA Robbie Butler and DUP MLA Trevor Clarke, who said opposition to the programme 'should not be personalised against anyone'.
Belfast Telegraph
12 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
‘No place for homophobia, racism, or misogyny': Michelle O'Neill brands abuse targeted at agriculture minister ‘disgraceful'
Mr Muir told the Assembly on Tuesday that he and his department had been the target of 'vile' homophobic, racist and misogynistic comments on social media over his department's proposed Nutrients Action Programme. Posting on social media on Wednesday morning, Ms O'Neill said: 'The online abuse directed at Minister Andrew Muir and staff in his department is disgraceful. 'There must always be space for open and honest debate on policy, but there is absolutely no place for homophobia, racism, or misogyny. 'I urge people to engage constructively in the political process: to shape policy, improve it, and make it work for farmers, our environment, and Lough Neagh.' In the Assembly on Tuesday, Mr Muir was pressed to abandon the proposed plan for 2026-29 which is currently out for consultation during questions for his department. He was warned the proposals, aimed at improving water quality and the wider environment by reducing and preventing pollution caused or induced by nutrients from agricultural sources, could destroy the farming industry. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Opponents to the plan have argued that the measures currently proposed could devastate agriculture, reduce livestock numbers and undermine food security. They have called on Mr Muir to bring forward a policy based on genuine partnership rather than punitive policies which risk the viability of our agricultural industry. A petition set up by DUP MLA Michelle McIlveen calling for the plan to be scrapped had been signed by more than 1,800 people by Tuesday afternoon. Mr Muir told MLAs there is a requirement arising from the Lough Neagh Action Plan and also the Environmental Improvement Plan to review the Nutrients Action Plan. He said it is about ensuring both financial and environmental sustainability, and emphasised they are currently undertaking a consultation on draft proposals, and that no final decisions have been taken. Mr Muir also expressed concern that there is 'a lot of misinformation' around the proposals, and said the social media commentary around the plan in recent weeks has been disgraceful'. 'There's been misogynistic comments against officials in my department,' he said. 'There's been racist comments in relation to people that we are very, very fortunate to have working within our agri-food sector. 'And not for a very long time have I seen such vile homophobic comments about myself. I am a gay man, and I am proud to be a gay man, and it has no relevance whatsoever to the Nutrients Action Programme nor my ability to do this job.' The consultation on the revised Nutrients Action Programme 2026-2029 is set to continue to July 24 2025.
Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Belfast Telegraph
NI minister slams ‘vile homophobic, racist and misogynistic' comments on social media over Nutrients Action Programme
Andrew Muir was pressed to abandon the proposed plan for 2026-29 which is currently out for consultation during questions for his department in the Assembly on Tuesday. He was warned the proposals, aimed at improving water quality and the wider environment by reducing and preventing pollution caused or induced by nutrients from agricultural sources, could destroy the farming industry. Opponents to the plan have argued that the measures currently proposed could devastate agriculture, reduce livestock numbers and undermine food security. They have called on Mr Muir to bring forward a policy based on genuine partnership rather than punitive policies which risk the viability of our agricultural industry Mr Muir told MLAs there is a requirement arising from the Lough Neagh Action Plan and also the Environmental Improvement Plan to review the Nutrients Action Plan. He said it is about ensuring both financial and environmental sustainability, and emphasised they are currently undertaking a consultation on draft proposals, and that no final decisions have been taken. Mr Muir also expressed concern that there is 'a lot of misinformation' around the proposals, and said the social media commentary around the plan in recent weeks has been disgraceful'. 'There's been misogynistic comments against officials in my department,' he said. 'There's been racist comments in relation to people that we are very, very fortunate to have working within our agri-food sector. 'And not for a very long time have I seen such vile homophobic comments about myself. I am a gay man, and I am proud to be a gay man, and it has no relevance whatsoever to the Nutrients Action Programme nor my ability to do this job.' The consultation on the revised Nutrients Action Programme 2026-2029 is set to continue to July 24 2025.
