T5. Mr Buckley asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for his Department's assessment of the impact of slurry run-off into our waterways, rivers and Lough Neagh, considering the complex and competing issues and the seriousness of pollution. (AQT 505/22-27)

We all know that water quality in Northern Ireland is a significant concern, and the Office for Environmental Protection has issued comments on that. There is an Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) report on water quality that I will share with the Member. Approximately a quarter of the issues related to poor water quality can be attributed to the waste water infrastructure; about 12% can be attributed to septic tanks; and 60-odd per cent can be attributed to agricultural run-off.

We are doing further research on the specific issues in Lough Neagh, but it is my understanding that a good element of that relates to diffuse pollution. We need to find ways to tackle that. That is why we are taking forward a measures on the management of slurry that will be consulted on as part of the nutrient action programme. We will announce some stuff in the time ahead on the sustainable utilisation of slurry. From engagement with the Ulster Farmers' Union and AFBI, I know that they are keen to see us roll that out at pace. That is one action that we are taking. The other action relates to low-emissions slurry spreading equipment (LESSE) and how we can incentivise its uptake. There are interventions that we can make.

I also understand the concerns about planning and ammonia. That is one of the issues about which farmers have been coming to me. They want to get better ways of managing it, so I have convened a ministerial round-table so that we can work through those issues.

I thank the Minister for his answer. I want to be practical. One of the issues affecting farmers is the inflexibility surrounding a slurry season that opens on 15 October and closes on 31 January. With very unpredictable weather, to put it mildly, in Northern Ireland, that is simply not realistic for many farmers. It puts them under huge pressure to get slurry out in what are sometimes very wet conditions rather than having some flexibility and better weather predictions and conditions on the ground. Will the Minister lobby on that and look into it as a genuine way of trying to reduce run-off into waterways and Lough Neagh?

I am aware of the issues that the Member has outlined about the closed period. I will be honest with him: given the current situation with water quality in Northern Ireland, I cannot move towards changing that closed period and would not have credibility with others in society if I were to change it. However, I outlined the interventions to Members, and, if we are able to take action on the better management of slurry, options will be available to us. At the moment, I cannot look at changing that. I am being honest with you.