Lough Neagh

[Sportacus]

The Environment Minister has published his plan.
"Engagement" on sustainable farming.
A fund to "explore" solutions.
Sand dredging "review".
Enforcement "Taskforce".

Stormont is just a big embarrassing talking shop.  A merry band of civil servants will now knock ten years out of this, running them nicely up to their pension.  Same craic with Casement. God help us all.

It sure is.

The warmer weather  is  coming  and the algae is rearing is  head again , so  they have to be  seen to be doing something. 

Put  out  nonsense and gibberish  statements to justify their positions and big wages. 

I see the Lough Neagh Partnership are publicly calling out Stormont - the algae is back, a plan was published, but the Assembly went into recess before it was approved. Bunch of bluffers.

Where are you seeing this?

They published a statement.

[Sportacus]

To be fair, it's farmers, septic tanks, industrial run off, NI Water.  Hell of a mess. Completely beyond the capabilities of Stormont.

[JohnDenver]

The Environment Minister has published his plan.
"Engagement" on sustainable farming.
A fund to "explore" solutions.
Sand dredging "review".
Enforcement "Taskforce".

Stormont is just a big embarrassing talking shop.  A merry band of civil servants will now knock ten years out of this, running them nicely up to their pension.  Same craic with Casement. God help us all.

It sure is.

The warmer weather  is  coming  and the algae is rearing is  head again , so  they have to be  seen to be doing something. 

Put  out  nonsense and gibberish  statements to justify their positions and big wages. 

I see the Lough Neagh Partnership are publicly calling out Stormont - the algae is back, a plan was published, but the Assembly went into recess before it was approved. Bunch of bluffers.

Where are you seeing this?

They published a statement.

have you got a link to it?

Only one I can see is from July 2nd here

https://t.co/GeJ885U8aU

[Sportacus]

The Environment Minister has published his plan.
"Engagement" on sustainable farming.
A fund to "explore" solutions.
Sand dredging "review".
Enforcement "Taskforce".

Stormont is just a big embarrassing talking shop.  A merry band of civil servants will now knock ten years out of this, running them nicely up to their pension.  Same craic with Casement. God help us all.

It sure is.

The warmer weather  is  coming  and the algae is rearing is  head again , so  they have to be  seen to be doing something. 

Put  out  nonsense and gibberish  statements to justify their positions and big wages. 

I see the Lough Neagh Partnership are publicly calling out Stormont - the algae is back, a plan was published, but the Assembly went into recess before it was approved. Bunch of bluffers.

Where are you seeing this?

They published a statement.

have you got a link to it?

Only one I can see is from July 2nd here

https://t.co/GeJ885U8aU

Where I noticed it was Amanda Ferguson who put it on Twitter saying they'd issued a new media release. 

[JohnDenver]

The Environment Minister has published his plan.
"Engagement" on sustainable farming.
A fund to "explore" solutions.
Sand dredging "review".
Enforcement "Taskforce".

Stormont is just a big embarrassing talking shop.  A merry band of civil servants will now knock ten years out of this, running them nicely up to their pension.  Same craic with Casement. God help us all.

It sure is.

The warmer weather  is  coming  and the algae is rearing is  head again , so  they have to be  seen to be doing something. 

Put  out  nonsense and gibberish  statements to justify their positions and big wages. 

I see the Lough Neagh Partnership are publicly calling out Stormont - the algae is back, a plan was published, but the Assembly went into recess before it was approved. Bunch of bluffers.

Where are you seeing this?

They published a statement.

have you got a link to it?

Only one I can see is from July 2nd here

https://t.co/GeJ885U8aU

Where I noticed it was Amanda Ferguson who put it on Twitter saying they'd issued a new media release. 

Thanks, I see it on her twitter page now. It's strange they didn't publish it themselves. (not that it takes away from the fact of the lack of progress)

NEW: Media release issued on behalf of Lough Neagh Partnership

July 16, 2024

PROFOUND DISAPPOINTMENT FOR LOUGH NEAGH PARTNERSHIP AS ALGAE RESURFACES

With the visible impact of alarming toxic blue green algae once again surfacing on the shoreline and across the UK and Ireland's largest freshwater lake, Lough Neagh Partnership has expressed its profound disappointment over the Northern Ireland Executive's failure to approve a critical action plan to prioritise addressing this environmental catastrophe.

Whilst Lough Neagh Partnership expressed support for the announcement made by Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir MLA, that the 20 point Lough Neagh Report and Action Plan would be delivered, subject to Northern Ireland Executive approval, there is frustration that elected representatives have left for summer recess while the algae rages yet the plan languishes unapproved.

Speaking about the visibility of the algae on Lough Neagh, Gerry Darby said: "It has come as no surprise that the algae is back with a vengeance, as it was only a matter of time with the right weather conditions that it would reappear. We consistently campaigned over the winter for action to be taken, as we feared that momentum would be lost once the algae disappeared below the surface and it would be a case of out of sight out of mind. We met with the main political parties and, despite assurances that immediate action would be taken upon Stormont's return, in reality we have not seen any of the promised efforts to resolve the crisis.

"Whilst we have put on record that we have welcomed the plan presented by Minister Muir, we are utterly disheartened by the lack of consensus to approve and implement it. As a result, we face another summer watching this ecological disaster unfold, powerless to intervene."

For information on the work of Lough Neagh Partnership, please visit http://loughneaghpartnership.org

[trileacman]

The Agriculture minister moved to increase penalties on farmers who break environmental, welfare and traceability rules last month. Edwin Poots had reduced the penalties after the UK left the EU, the alliance minister Muir moved to increase the penalty back in line with EU rules. These changes would affect a tiny, tiny number of farmers, 53 last year, who broke the rules.

The Assembly Agriculture Committee met to discuss the changes and the entire committee (except for 1 Allaince member) voted to block the change. That includes 3 SF members and 3 DUP members.

So next time you feel like complaining about what farmers are doing to Lough Neagh and smearing all with the one brush please remember that it's the politicians who continually act to prevent any positive changes happening in Northern Ireland. Expect when it's a committee or board or taking shop where they can siphon off expenses and salary for themselves.

[Wildweasel74]

Poots is a farmer, and never should been in the position to lower the fines as it was a conflict of interest.

[imtommygunn]

A dubious character with nothing but self interest at heart. This, planning stuff with his kid, "gay" blood and I am sure the list goes on.

[Tony Baloney]

A dubious character with nothing but self interest at heart. This, planning stuff with his kid, "gay" blood and I am sure the list goes on.

Look at the family history of both young and old.

[imtommygunn]

Yep. Grandfather, father, son. A bad lot.

[trileacman]

Poots is a farmer, and never should been in the position to lower the fines as it was a conflict of interest.

SF have supported Poots decision to lower the fines through 2 DAERA committees and an Assembly vote. When it comes to backing Poots, SF and SDLP are his biggest supporters. Your attitude is typical of the one that makes NI such an inefficient shithole, so long as someone is "one of ours" they can do what they want without criticism.

[trileacman]

Just a reminder that all 4 main parties voted against a tightening of rules around penalties last week in Stormont. Only Alliance and PBP voted for environmental enforcement rules to once again be brought back in line with EU counterparts.

The 4 parties opposed it twice at committee level and now publicly in the chamber. Only 35 farmers would have been affected by the change in 2023, ie a tiny subset who repeatedly broke the rules.

Please don't tell me how farmers are ruining the countryside when your elected representatives can't even make the most basic attempt to implement change. Bear all this in mind this summer when Lough Neagh turns to glue again and SF/DUP bullshit merchants tell us all how they've "set up a committee" and are "finding a way forward".

[imtommygunn]

Just a reminder that all 4 main parties voted against a tightening of rules around penalties last week in Stormont. Only Alliance and PBP voted for environmental enforcement rules to once again be brought back in line with EU counterparts.

The 4 parties opposed it twice at committee level and now publicly in the chamber. Only 35 farmers would have been affected by the change in 2023, ie a tiny subset who repeatedly broke the rules.

Please don't tell me how farmers are ruining the countryside when your elected representatives can't even make the most basic attempt to implement change. Bear all this in mind this summer when Lough Neagh turns to glue again and SF/DUP bullshit merchants tell us all how they've "set up a committee" and are "finding a way forward".

Nail on head 

[AustinPowers]

Just a reminder that all 4 main parties voted against a tightening of rules around penalties last week in Stormont. Only Alliance and PBP voted for environmental enforcement rules to once again be brought back in line with EU counterparts.

The 4 parties opposed it twice at committee level and now publicly in the chamber. Only 35 farmers would have been affected by the change in 2023, ie a tiny subset who repeatedly broke the rules.

Please don't tell me how farmers are ruining the countryside when your elected representatives can't even make the most basic attempt to implement change. Bear all this in mind this summer when Lough Neagh turns to glue again and SF/DUP bullshit merchants tell us all how they've "set up a committee" and are "finding a way forward".

Stormont is  not fit for purpose.  End of story

[Tubberman]

Just a reminder that all 4 main parties voted against a tightening of rules around penalties last week in Stormont. Only Alliance and PBP voted for environmental enforcement rules to once again be brought back in line with EU counterparts.

The 4 parties opposed it twice at committee level and now publicly in the chamber. Only 35 farmers would have been affected by the change in 2023, ie a tiny subset who repeatedly broke the rules.

Please don't tell me how farmers are ruining the countryside when your elected representatives can't even make the most basic attempt to implement change. Bear all this in mind this summer when Lough Neagh turns to glue again and SF/DUP bullshit merchants tell us all how they've "set up a committee" and are "finding a way forward".

Stormont is  not fit for purpose.  End of story

When we take over, it's going to a rude awakening for a lot of people!
Our efficiency drive will put a bit of order on the place.
There's even been talk of building a Lough Neagh Riviera resort.