Meeting Details

This meeting will be webcast for live and subsequent broadcast on the Council's You Tube site Live Broadcast Link

Over recent months we have seen a concerning rise in Blue/Green Algae in Lough Neagh which has affected local wildlife as well as local businesses right across the Lough.  All this combined with serious access issues and a perceived lack of action from Governmental bodies, this council calls for;

An Interdepartmental Group to be set up by DAERA and Department of Infrastructure in conjunction with local Councils to deal with the overall management of Lough Neagh.

Council to reaffirm its position that Lough Neagh should be in public ownership as it is of such strategic importance to the whole of Ireland.   Ramsar Secretariat and Environmental Protection Agency be invited to present to Council on the deterioration of Lough Neagh.

Council to write to the secretary of state calling on him to ensure the Loughs Environmental and Economic sustainability is given the due care and consideration needed to protect for future generations.

That this council: notes with concern that the ongoing cost of living crisis and British Government imposed cuts is exacerbating poverty and financial pain on people in the community; believes that targeting objective need is fundamental to tackling poverty and inequality; further believes what is required is a living wage economy and a fair social security system that targets resources where they are most needed and ensures people have a minimum essential standard of living; recognises that the current social security system, particularly Universal Credit, is not fit for purpose, not properly funded and is failing people; further recognises that those who rely on Universal Credit are incredibly vulnerable to changing circumstances often beyond their control, such as loss of employment, illness, increased caring responsibilities; and family breakdown; Endorses the Guarantee our Essentials campaign which seeks to ensure everyone can afford the essentials in hard times; And calls on the British Government to introduce an Essentials Guarantee which would ensure, at a minimum, Universal Credit/legacy benefits, would protect people from going without essentials.