‘Toxic thunderdome’ assembly urged to back proposed environment agency

4 hours ago

Louise CullenBBC News NI agriculture and environment correspondent

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Stormont has been urged to back the creation of an independent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Northern Ireland.

Agriculture and Environment Minister Andrew Muir told members he was seeking “an agreement in principle” to get legislation in place by the end of this mandate.

But he warned that working in a power-sharing executive was “hard”, and the Northern Ireland Assembly chamber was “nothing more than a toxic thunderdome” in terms of engagement.

The recommendation for an independent EPA came from a review of environmental governance.

Northern Ireland currently comes under the UK’s environment watchdog, the Office for Environmental Protection.

It has already carried out a number of investigations in Northern Ireland and published several reports.

But the assembly was told the lack of independent environmental oversight had led to “substantial” costs.

“The cost of remediation of the Mobuoy site could be between £100m and £700m,” the minister said.

“The cost that we’re spending this year in relation to the crisis at Lough Neagh as my department is over £17m and I could continue.

“So the business case of this is very clear.”

SDLP assembly member Daniel McCrossan questioned the pace of progress and asked when an independent agency would “finally” be established.

The minister replied that the environmental landscape was “very different” since the UK left the EU.

He added that co-operation of the assembly was “absolutely crucial” and he was determined to make progress.

The Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs committee is due to consider the review group’s report.

UUP assembly member Robbie Butler, who chairs the committee, welcomed the opportunity and said the terms of reference should ensure that the new body would not be a barrier to “environmentally compliant and sustainable” planning applications.

Funding concerns

During the debate, the minister acknowledged the constrained budget environment the Northern Ireland Assembly operates in.

DUP’s Michelle McIlveen asked how he expected “a new, additional body” would be funded.

In response, Muir said the review recommended that the enabling legislation should guard against the risk of reduced funding.

Colm Gildernew from Sinn Féin sought reassurance that the new agency “will have the teeth” to address air quality issues that were causing concern in his Fermanagh South Tyrone constituency.

Thanking staff who currently work in the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Muir said penalties available to the new agency would be set by the assembly.

“This is not a silver bullet,” he added.

“Ultimately it requires political leadership here to ensure that there are sufficient deterrents in place so that the environmental agency as an independent non-departmental public body can use the proper enforcement mechanisms.”

‘The right to breathe clean air’

Air pollution in Northern Ireland is thought to contribute to as many as 900 premature deaths a year in Northern Ireland, according to research by Queen’s University Belfast.

Joseph Carter, head of Asthma + Lung UK Northern Ireland, welcomed the plan for an independent Environmental Protection Agency but said more was needed.

“Without the delayed Clean Air strategy and associated legislative changes, air pollution levels will remain too high.

“Everyone in Northern Ireland should have the right to breathe clean air.”