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EPA spotlight falls on Sinn Féin

Sammy Wilson comes under pressure to re-think Arlene's green watchdog decision

Sammy Wilson will come under pressure from Ministerial colleagues this afternoon (Thursday 12 June) over the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) when he attends his first Executive meeting since taking the environment portfolio. Today's discussion has been triggered by a Petition of Referral [1] signed by 30 MLAs, following the decision by the then Environment Minister, Arlene Foster to refuse Northern Ireland a new independent environmental regulator [2]. But with little hope for a Damascene conversion by the colourful East Antrim MLA, campaigners are looking to the other three Executive parties which are avowedly pro-EPA, in particular Sinn Féin.

Lisa Fagan of Friends of the Earth explained:

"The spotlight now falls to Sinn Féin to insist on a re-think. With a majority of MLAs backing the agency, and the support of all but one of the Executive parties, this decision is a key test of devolution and democracy."

Notes

[1] Find out more about the Petition of Referal.

[2] Read the Environment Minister's statement.