Bid to stop NI Water protection from environmental penalties on Executive table

Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir said he wants to update enforcement policy to protect rivers, lakes and loughs across the region.

He was speaking while one of the most significant water issues remains at Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the UK and Ireland, which has been largely covered by noxious blooms of blue-green algae over recent summers.

NI Water has been protected since its formation in 2007 from severe environmental enforcement and fines regarding wastewater pollution by the Statement of Regulatory Principles and Intent (SoRPI).

The framework is as an acknowledgement of the antiquated wastewater infrastructure.

Mr Muir has been seeking Executive agreement to end this protection.

He urged other parties to support this during the next meeting of ministers on Wednesday.

During questions for his department in the Assembly on Tuesday, Mr Muir described a four-pillar approach by his department of education and incentivisation, as well as regulation and enforcement.

He described SoRPI as “not right, not fair and not lawful”.

“It is important that we also take actions in regard to regulation and enforcement, and we’re looking to update our enforcement policy to make sure we have a balance right in regards to that,” he told MLAs.

“What I would say is that the regulatory regime does have a separate arrangement for Northern Ireland Water, as known as SoRPI, which essentially they get a buy ball in regards to enforcement, in a number of instances, I don’t think that’s right. It’s not lawful.

“It’s not fair to farmers, and it’s been sitting with the Executive now for months.”

Mr Muir claimed that Sinn Fein is “happy to progress it”, and urged others to back it too.

“All I would ask is: there’s a meeting tomorrow, can we not just progress that and ensure that everyone’s put on a fair footing,” he said.