DAERA

An image uploaded in 2023 to the Bloomin' Algae app, showing blue-green algae at Portrush harbour; sampling done for NIEA

Blue-green algae found at Portrush for first time in 2024

General view of wheelie bins left outside properties (photo by David Potter/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images)

DUP councillor defends fines for people who consistently leave bins out

Angeline Murphy, Textile Designer, Ken Orr, Tools for Solidarity, Siobhan Purnell, KNIB

Tackling textiles grant scheme returns for third year

Angeline Murphy, Textile Designer, Ken Orr, Tools for Solidarity, Siobhan Purnell, KNIB

Tackling textiles grant scheme returns for third year

Blue green algae stretching along the shoreline of the River Bann estuary between Coleraine and Portstewart at the weekend. Photo taken at the townland of Dooeybeg, close to the Cranagh outside Coleraine.

Toxic algae spotted along River Bann shoreline

Algal blooms have returned to Lough Neagh. Environment Minister Andrew Muir has launched a new initiative to explore solutions to tackle the blue-green algae crisis

Letter: Tackling Lough Neagh crisis will take motivation

A photo taken by police officers from the PSNI helicopter on Sunday shows a return of algal blooms on Lough Neagh.

DUP objections hold up Lough Neagh action plan

Toxic blue-green algae on the slipway of Ballyronan marina on Lough Neagh in September 2023. Photo: PA

‘Government policy played clear role in Lough Neagh crisis’

Stormont’s Agriculture minister Andrew Muir said he was also going to review the sentencing framework in relation to fines and penalties for breaches of wider environmental legislation

Farmers facing 'disproportionate' pollution fines - MLA

In the context of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement, the need for customs duties and tariffs is already minimised such that for many purposes mutual enforcement provides the opportunity to access the Republic on a basis that is like being in the same market, writes Dan Boucher

Dan Boucher: Mutual enforcement must replace Windsor Framework

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has visited the Stream BioEnergy (SBE) plant, the first such facility in the world to operate exclusively using poultry litter as its sole feedstock. He is pictured during a visit to the Ballymena plant with Kevin Fitzduff co-founder and managing director of Stream Bioenergy and chief operating officer Morgan Burke

NI plant is first site in the world to operate exclusively using poultry litter

UUP leader Doug Beattie has written to the Secretary of State seeking clarity on new protocol rules.

‘Chaos’ over London role in Stormont ministries

Ulster Unionist Tom Elliott - who chairs Stormont's agriculture committee - says process of London taking powers from Stormont departments relating to the Irish Sea border "undermines the very democracy that we have waited so long to achieve and deliver on".

'Utter confusion' amid Stormont powers transfer

Watch: 155th Balmoral Show gets underway at Balmoral Park

Molly Bradley at Balmoral Show. This year’s show got underway this morning at the Eikon, it is the 155th show. And first among the visitors to the show was DAERA Minister Andrew Muir who enjoyed a walk around the exhibitions and the exhibitors and chatting with showgoers. Picture: Steven McAuley

Watch: DAERA Minister Andrew Muir arrives at 155th Balmoral Show

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir MLA is determined to deliver a 48% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030 - something that the chair of Stormont’s environment committee Tom Elliott said this week would be “near impossible”. (Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye)

'Tough choices' for Executive over 2030 climate target
Environment minister Andrew Muir is committed to reaching an ambitious 48% greenhouse gas reduction by the end of the decade – a policy which will require “tough choices” for an Executive which says it’s already short of cash for health and education.
David Thompson

Image released by Greenpeace UK of a waste dump at Karahan Kuyumcular, a village in the district of Seyhan, Adana Province, seen during an investigation into plastic waste that is dumped and burned in Turkey. New EU regulations which will apply in Northern Ireland will seek to prevent such dumping. Photo: Caner Guevera/Greenpeace/PA Wire

NI sends 1m tonnes of waste overseas annually

A new EU law on organic pet food will avoid divergence between NI and GB - but there aren't currently any producers in Northern Ireland. However - organic egg producers are concerned their market will be put at a serious competitive disadvantage because of divergence.

Hoey: EU laws add to ‘unfair competition’

Hunting foxes with dogs is still legal in Northern Ireland - but the Alliance Party want it banned. Tom Elliott says that the Alliance-run DAERA should review animal welfare legislation to regulate the practice.

Elliott calls on DAERA to regulate fox hunting

A new EU law on organic pet food will avoid divergence between NI and GB - but there aren't currently any producers in Northern Ireland. However - organic egg producers are concerned their market will be put at a serious competitive disadvantage because of divergence. Photo: Steve Parsons/PA Wire

Divergence possible amid new EU laws in NI

Spring lambs in a Field near Antrim as The Spring nears with nice weather across N Ireland.

Dog owners called to have greater accountability during lambing season

DUP leader Gavin Robinson, writing in today's News Letter, defends the party's deal with the government - and 'imperfect' powersharing at Stormont.

Robinson accuses opponents of 'exploiting concerns' over Windsor Framework

David Somerville has been showing Border Canaries for 45 years. The Portadown man says 'soul-destroying' Protocol rules have prevented him from taking part in events in England and Scotland - as he and other breeders are terrified their birds will be confiscated by officials at Irish Sea border inspection posts.

Canary fancier says hobby ruined by 'soul destroying' Irish Sea border rules

DAERA has confirmed that bathing is safe at East Strand beach in Portrush after a report of slurry entering the water earlier this week. Credit: Causeway Coast and Glens area

DAERA confirms bathing is now safe at East Strand beach in Portrush

Sheep and other livestock from Great Britain may not be able to enter Northern Ireland for over two years under EU rules. (Picture: Cliff Donaldson)

Irish Sea border: Two year animal ban possible

A number of proposed restrictions and safeguards on owning XL bully dogs in Northern Ireland have been announced, including a ban on breeding, selling, abandoning or giving away XL bully dogs

XL Bully dogs banned in Northern Ireland

Ulster Unionist Tom Elliott is the new chair of Stormont's agriculture and environment committee.

Elliott - Farming is DAERA priority
The new chair of Stormont’s agriculture committee has said that the agriculture minister must prioritise the “immediate needs” of Northern Ireland’s agricultural community.
David Thompson

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, councillor Steven Callaghan pictured with Gary Stewart, owner of Tartine at the Distillers Arms, Ruaridh Morrison, owner of North Coast Smokehouse, Laura Adams from Bushmills Distillery, celebrity chef Paula McIntrye and Wendy Gallagher from Causeway Coast Foodie Tours at the recent launch of the Bushmills Salmon and Whiskey Festival 2023

No fishery at this weekend's Salmon and Whiskey Festival due to budget cuts

A person shopping in a supermarket. Photo: Julien Behal/PA Wire

Shoppers in NI will notice new signage as Windsor Framework is implemented

A UK flag next to an EU one

Shops in Northern Ireland expected to fall foul of new EU labelling rules

General views of green-blue algae deposits at Lough Neagh

'Wake' to be held as Lough Neagh collective worry about lake's future

Letters to editor

Letter: Worrying reports that funding for animal welfare could be cut

USPCA Chief Executive Nora Smith

USPCA chief warns of ‘biggest animal welfare tragedy’ if badger cull goes ahead

A man counts dead birds during a previous outbreak of bird flu in the UK (photo: RSPB)

'Little evidence' right now that mammals can infect one another with bird flu

The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) has announced an eight-month long programme of workplace-based transport inspections on farms across Northern Ireland

Farm inspections set to take place across Northern Ireland due to vehicle deaths

Dead black headed gulls at RSPB Belfast's Window On Wildlife reserve in Belfast Harbour last month. The RSPB NI said there had been an outbreak of Avian Influenza or bird flu at the reserve. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Bird Flu has morphed from 'winter only' to 12-month threat to farming

West Strand in Portrush

Two Portrush beaches red flagged due to blue-algae concerns

Northern Ireland's failure to publish its first environmental improvement plan before the July 25 deadline has been criticised by wildlife charity RSPB NI

Daera should have published environmental strategy despite no Executive: RSPB

Happier times: Alex Trotter with Spot the St Bernard on Portstewart Strand in County Antrim last summer. This year blue-green algae has been detected at the beach.
Photo: Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16 July 2022.

Blue-green algae warning at Portstewart and Castlerock beaches

Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful has revealed its Litter Composition Analysis Report 2022-23 – a survey of 1100 rural and urban roads in all council areas. Funded by DAERA, and the only report of its kind, it’s been revealed that there are 12 million items of litter strewn across the province at any one time – much of which is dangerous single-use-plastics. Just four producers are responsible for manufacturing 50% of branded litter. KNIB is calling for a dedicated Litter Strategy for NI that will allow us to tackle the growing litter problem once and for all

Report: NI’s growing litter problem with 12million items strewn across province

Window on Wildlife nature reserve in Belfast

Wildlife reserve near Belfast is closed after bird flu outbreak

How 'green' is your Council: The recycling rate in all Northern Ireland councils has gone down from 52.3% in 2021 to 51.5% in 2022, according to Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

Latest recycling statistics revealed...how 'green' is your Council area?

The protocol has led to increased security checks at places such as Larne Port

Esmond Birnie: Covering protocol costs as it stands will not be sustainable

'Tech fixes to Protocol are well and good but don't solve sovereignty issue'

Environment Minister Edwin MLA sitting in the front passenger seat while being given a test drive in a new DAERA amphibious rescue vehicle during a visit Castlewellan Forest Park

New equipment for Mourne Mountain Rescue ‘will help save many lives’

Colin Glen has just launched Ireland’s longest zip-line

Colin Glen creates 15 jobs ahead of busy summer season

Dr Tamara Bronckaers with her solicitor John McShane from the firm McCartan Turkington Breen.

USPCA joins calls for Daera ‘accountability’ over vet’s concerns

The River Rapids zipline at Colin Glen

Coming soon ... your chance to zip along in the air at 50mph

Niamh Kenny, North Channel Wind Project director

Belfast conference to discuss how NI can become an offshore wind leader

Larne Lough at Islandmagee

Legal challenge to DAERA over approval for gas storage project

Jamie Bryson.

Picture: Jonathan Porter/PressEye

‘No DUP collaboration in NI Protocol legal action’: Jamie Bryson

The Waterworks, north Belfast

Just six birds confirmed with flu despite wider reports of dead or dying animals

FSA’s chief operating officer, has written to producers of turkey, pork, beef, chicken, lamb, goose and duck in England and Wales

FSA say that shortage of vets is impacting meat production

Environment Minister Edwin Poots MLA launched a consultation on Northern Ireland’s first Environment Strategy at COP26. The Strategy will set out NI’s environment priorities

COP26 was a chance to showcase the positive action being taken forward in NI to ...

Glyn Roberts (left), chief executive of Retail NI

Increase in cost of carrier bags to 25p in Northern Ireland branded excessive