He was speaking after the AERA Minister attended a meeting of the Assembly Committee on Monday. Mr McGlone said that he welcomed the AERA Minister’s commitment to addressing the ecological crisis in Lough Neagh. Advertisement Advertisement Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to NorthernIrelandWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.
“However, the Action Plan he has delivered contains cross-Departmental measures that need the agreement of his Executive colleagues,” he said. “The Minister outlined some of those measures at the meeting in response to my questioning. “They include investment in wastewater treatment works, a review of enforcement measures, and restricting the use of chemical phosphorus fertilisers where soil sampling shows the ground simply does not need it.
“So far, for whatever reason, the Executive has failed to agree to the Action Plan and its recommendations. Advertisement Advertisement “Their continued failure to agree will condemn Lough Neagh to further decline.” Mr McGlone stressed that this situation was not sustainable.
He continuted: “It is a betrayal of all those who rely on the Lough for an income or who enjoy its natural beauty. “Responsibility for dealing with the crisis in Lough Neagh is shared between departments and it needs a united Executive approach. Advertisement Advertisement “The SDLP is willing to work constructively with the AERA Minister and his Executive colleagues to properly .
