Image via NI Assembly

Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir said he was “glad the executive was able to agree” the report and action plan.

The lough has been affected by blue-green algal blooms in recent months.

Twenty of the plan’s 37 actions have already been given the go-ahead as they fell to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

But the remaining 17 actions were cross-cutting and required executive consent.

The future management of the Lough was the focus of meetings on Wednesday between the minister and the owner of the lough’s soil and bed.

Mr Muir said today marked “an important moment for Lough Neagh”.

And despite a “a lot of work that is already underway”, he said more needs to be done in relation to the future of the lough.

The minister said that so recently as this morning he was “engaging with” his ministerial colleagues in relation to the plan.

He said that he intends to “lead the way in terms of taking actions”.

And he described how “there’s no quick wins here but its important we make a start”.

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