Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will take steps to move the (a) bed and (b) banks of Lough Neagh into public ownership.

The damage being caused to the environment, wildlife and local businesses due to the deteriorating situation around Lough Neagh is intolerable.

However, the administration of Lough Neagh is a matter that is fully devolved to Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

The absence of a functioning Executive in Northern Ireland is exacerbating the severe challenges associated with managing serious environmental issues such as this.

The Government are doing all we can to engage with the party leaders to support a return to stable government so that these important issues can be addressed by those elected to do so.