Controversial water pollution measures will be evaluated by an independent group including farmers, environmental groups and agri-food representatives before going out for a second consultation, the environment minister has announced.
Andrew Muir said he was “determined” to chart a way forward on the long-delayed Nutrients Action Plan (NAP).
The NAP aims to reduce water pollution from agricultural sources and the latest plan is already overdue.
However, the department has faced pressure over the plan, with calls for the consultation to be scrapped and the document reassessed.
Farmers accused the minister of being “out of touch” and criticised the consultation document as “flawed”.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) has since published an addendum to the consultation document, clarifying some issues and correcting some “inconsistencies”.
Water pollution from agricultural sources is the main contributor to blue-green algal blooms in Lough Neagh.
Muir said the NAP was vital given “the crisis declared at Lough Neagh” and called on “urgent and critical endeavour”.
The independent group, including farmers, environmental groups and agri-food industry representatives, will be led by an external facilitator and is to be set up after 24 July when the initial consultation ends.
After considering the consultation responses and “any other potential solutions”, the stakeholder group will be asked to bring forward “measures and actions, that are evidence based and workable at farm level within realistic timeframes, as well as meeting legislative requirements”.
He added that officials were “considering” the financial requirements of some measures in the draft document.
That revised proposal and draft Economic Impact Assessment will then go to a further eight-week public consultation.
The Mr Muir said he would “work with everyone”, adding that “no final decisions have been taken”.
