Archived press release

The 'case for an EPA' is wheeled into Stormont Environment Committee

21 February 2008

Green campaigners this morning (21 February 2008) wheeled a suitcase up to Parliament Buildings, containing more than 50 reports calling for the creation of an independent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Northern Ireland. The conservation organisations showed off 'the case for an EPA' ahead of their appearance in front of the Assembly's Environment Committee. Inside the suitcase were 51 reports including several that were commissioned by Government: all have called for the creation of an independent environmental watchdog for the region. The oldest was published in 1962, the last in January 2008.

Lisa Fagan of Friends of the Earth spoke on behalf of the Coalition for Environmental Protection [1]:

"The need for an EPA was recognised as early as 1962 with the publication of the Abercorn report, and calls for its creation have continued right into the present with the publication last month of the report of the Independent Water Review Panel. Today we are presenting more than 50 reports to the Stormont Environment Committee, spanning 46 years. Given the evidence base which we present today, we look forward to a sympathetic hearing from the Committee and, in due course, the right decision by the Environment Minister, Arlene Foster."

Dr James Robinson of RSPB added:

"It's important to understand that we aren't asking for the creation of an additional body: Northern Ireland already has an environmental regulator in the shape of DOE Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) and we imagine that most staff would transfer across to the new agency. Research which we commissioned [2] shows that an EPA would not cost more to run than EHS does at present, and that the set-up costs could be offset by efficiency savings within 5 years. Furthermore, there are many benefits of independent regulation which would accrue to Northern Ireland's environment and its economy".

Diane Ruddock of National Trust pointed to the growing consensus on the need for an agency:

"Stakeholders across all sectors have endorsed our call for the creation of an EPA: our campaign enjoys the support of political parties, business leaders, consumer champions, anglers, rural representatives and respected environmentalists [3]. The combined membership of our nine organisations exceeds 100,000 people, spread across all 18 constituencies. As our political leaders prepare to make their decision on this important question, we urge them to consider the evidence, listen to the stakeholders and heed the public mood."

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) 'Estimating potential costs for an independent environmental protection agency in Northern Ireland' by Ian Dickie and James A. Robinson, published November 2007. An executive summary is available here.

[3] (back) 'Consensus grows on Environmental Protection Agency', published February 2008 is available here

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Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland
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Fax: 028 9024 7556
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust