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Green groups reassure farmers on Environmental Protection Agency

NGOs urge swift action by Minister Foster

Northern Ireland's leading environment organisations [1] have urged Environment Minister Arlene Foster to move swiftly to implement the recommendations of a report [2] published yesterday which include the creation of a new independent environment watchdog for the region. The proposal is among thirty-one recommendations made by the Review of Environmental Governance which was conducted by Tom Burke, Professor Sharon Turner and Gordon Bell [3]. Their report was presented to Minister Foster yesterday for consideration and implementation.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Hilary McGrady, Northern Ireland Director of the National Trust said the report represented an exciting opportunity for the new Minister:

"Mrs Foster could leave no greater legacy to the people of Northern Ireland than to protect its most important asset, our environment. A high quality environment isn't at odds with economic vitality, rather it underpins prosperity. If we are to improve public health, enhance our tourism offering and attract knowledge-rich inward investment, then a high quality environment is essential."

Aidan Lonergan, Northern Ireland Director of RSPB said that the opportunity was enormous but warned of the risk of inaction:

"There are many dusty shelves in Government where this report might find its resting place, never to see implementation. A programme of far-reaching reform such as this requires adequate resourcing, the right skill-set and the commitment of senior officials. We will be pressing the Minister on these matters when we meet her next week."

The Coalition for Environmental Protection has also sought to reassure the farming community following concerns expressed by their representatives:

• The Environmental Protection Agency is not an additional layer of bureaucracy, instead it would replace the current environmental regulator, DOE Environment and Heritage Service.
• The Review of Environmental Governance is proposing a merger of various bodies charged with managing and protecting the environment. This rationalisation would deliver more joined-up regulation, less duplication, greater consistency and cost savings.
• The Environmental Protection Agency would not be funded from fees paid by farmers for pollution permits because farmers are not generally required to hold such permits.
• Virtually all environmental regulation emanates from Europe, rather than from national or regional governments. The role of local policy-makers is to 'transpose' European Directives into domestic legislation and the role of the EPA would be to enforce such legislation.

Speaking after the launch, John Woods, Northern Ireland Director of Friends of the Earth said the report's recommendations would improve environmental policy-making and regulation, bringing significant benefits to the agricultural community:

"Farmers are the custodians of the countryside but were plunged into crisis recently when the Nitrates Directive was implemented at short notice. Two of the report's recommendations would address problems such as this: a specialist team of environmental policy-makers within DOE, and a White Paper setting out Government's long-term environmental policy objectives. These measures would serve as an early warning system for agriculture and industry, avoiding the difficulties caused by last-minute policy-making."

Notes

[1] (back) The Coalition for Environmental Protection comprises:

Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland
Friends of the Earth
National Trust
Northern Ireland Environment Link
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Ulster Wildlife Trust
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
Woodlands Trust
WWF (Northern Ireland)

[2] (back) Foundations for the Future, the final report of the Review of Environmental Governance

[3] (back) The Review of Environmental Governance was chaired by Tom Burke. Also on the panel were Sharon Turner and Gordon Bell. Tom Burke CBE is an Environmental Policy Adviser to Rio Tinto plc and a Visiting Professor at Imperial College, London. Professor Sharon Turner is a Chair of Environmental Law at Queen's University, Belfast. Gordon Bell is the former Chief Executive of Liberty IT, a successful software development company. For more information, visit www.regni.info.