Noxious blooms covered large parts of Lough Neagh last summer, and also affected other waterways and beaches in the region.

Projections for the agri-sector in Ireland look set to improve for dairy farmers and remain difficult for sheep and tillage farmers.

Price increases can be seen in fertiliser prices, which are up 133.8 per cent

An Taisce has taken the action to protect Ireland's waterways from what it claims is the serious environmental threat to waterways from increasing levels of nitrate pollution.