To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail (i) any discussions he has had with the Earl of Shaftesbury in relation to the potential transfer of ownership of the bed of Lough Neagh; and (ii) his plans to find or develop a body to whom this ownership can be passed.

I met the Earl of Shaftesbury on 21 February 2024 and discussed a range of issues in relation to Lough Neagh including ownership. Following his recent comments on the potential to transfer ownership of the Lough into a charity or Community Trust model, I have written to the Earl requesting a meeting to explore this further.

I welcome the Lough Neagh Heritage Resilience Project currently underway, led by the Lough Neagh Partnership, which is considering the future management of Lough Neagh including ownership. I believe that it is appropriate for this work to be undertaken whilst also personally engaging with Earl of Shaftesbury