Archived press release

Green groups reassure farmers on environmental agency

16 January 2008

Green groups have sought to reassure farmers over the proposed creation of a new Environmental Protection Agency. The environmental organisations were responding to concerns raised by the Ulster Farmers' Union that a new agency would add to the burden for farmers. A coalition of leading conservation charities insists, however, that farmers have nothing to fear from such a body.

The Coalition for Environmental Protection [1] is appealing directly to farmers to lend their support to the proposed new agency and has set out its case:

• Farmers are custodians of the countryside and can look forward to receiving support and advice from the staff of the new agency;
• The streamlining [2] which is likely to accompany the creation of the new agency could reduce the regulatory burden on farmers by minimising duplication, meaning less paperwork and fewer farm visits;
• An EPA would not be an extra layer of bureaucracy: it would replace DOE Environment and Heritage Service (EHS). Most EHS staff are expected to transfer to the new agency;
• Farmers can expect higher charges for their licences and permits whether or not EHS is replaced by an EPA, according to the 'cost recovery' policy imposed by HM Treasury;
• Regarding cost to the tax-payer, the running costs of an EPA would not be greater than those of EHS, according to research carried out by an economist commissioned by the RSPB [3];
• The same research suggests that the agency set-up costs could be recovered through efficiency gains within 5 years; and
• There is no reason why a decision to create a new agency should result in years of stalemate. A team from DOE could prepare the legislation and lay it before the Assembly inside a year.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Dr James Robinson of RSPB said:

"Farmers are responsible for shaping and maintaining the vast majority of Northern Ireland's countryside. Financial support for the industry is increasingly tied to managing the environment rather than food production. Farmers are facing growing demands to reduce pollution on the farm and will face major challenges from climate change. An EPA can help them prepare their farm business for the future, by providing advice and support and by operating a fair and transparent regulatory regime."

Seamus Gallagher of Northern Ireland Environment Link concluded:

"An EPA will make its key decisions in public. It will be governed by a Board whose members will be public appointees. Board meetings will be held in public: members of the public and journalists will be free to attend. Minutes will be published on its website. This transparency will enable the EPA to earn public confidence as well as the trust of those it regulates. Farmers have nothing to fear from the creation of an EPA."

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) The report of the Review of Environmental Governance (PDF†) , published June 2007 recommended that the new EPA include the functions of various parts of central Government, including functions currently carried out by DOE Environment and Heritage Service, DARD Rivers Agency and DCAL Inland Fisheries. These mergers would lead to greater efficiency, helping to eliminate duplication and promoting cost savings.

[3] (back) 'Estimating potential costs for an independent environmental protection agency in Northern Ireland' by Ian Dickie and James A. Robinson, published November 2007.
Executive summary (PDF†)

†To view PDF files you will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Visually impaired users can get extra help with these documents from access.adobe.com.

Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland
7 Donegall Street Place
BELFAST
BT1 2FN
Tel: 028 9023 3488
Fax: 028 9024 7556
Email: foe-ni@foe.co.uk.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust