McCarthy– Agriculture Minister’s disinterest in waterways pollution shows need for independent environmental protection agency

Alliance Agriculture spokesperson Kieran McCarthy MLA has expressed his concern after the Agriculture Minister said she was not alarmed by the number of pollution incidents in our waterways in 2012.

In responding to a question from Mr McCarthy in the Assembly, the Minister said she wasn’t concerned as this figure was not above average. The Minister said that her Department had responded to over 100 incidents of pollution in 2012

KieranMcCarthy MLA said: “I was disappointed in the lack of alarm by the Agriculture Minister to the 100 incidents of pollution in our waterways in 2012. The Minister seemed to indicate that she was not concerned as this figure was not above average.

“I believe that one incident of pollution is one too many, let alone 100. We should be doing all that is possible to eradicate all forms of pollution in our waterways.

“The Minister is not taking this issue seriously enough. If we had an independent environmental protection agency, perhaps stronger action would be taken to dramatically reduce the level of pollution.”

ENDS