Debate contribution: Harbours Bill: Second Stage
Debate contribution by Mrs Sinéad Ennis on .
- MLA
- Mrs Sinéad Ennis
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 23 June 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Executive Committee Business
- Heading
- Harbours Bill: Second Stage
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5637198
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Minister for giving way. The contact that we have had from members of the public in Warrenpoint and their attempts to understand what the Bill does and to amend it show the level of desperation. Anything related to the harbour that constitutes a change to how it runs will be latched on to and seen as a vehicle to rectify the horrendous situation that constituents in Warrenpoint face.
I am not suggesting that the Member wants to get into this now, because now is not the appropriate time. However, when we talk about breaches of environmental regulations or environmental nuisance, we need to look at enforcement. It is not working for people and is not doing the job that it is supposed to do. The NIEA, rather than punishing offenders, is helping them to become compliant again so that they can break the rules again. That needs to end. I am very open, as I am sure others are, to having that conversation with the Minister, because — I know that the Member will agree with this — the situation is intolerable for our constituents in Warrenpoint. Does the Minister agree that the provisions in the Bill that allow ports to widen their horizons and attract more commercial opportunities will help them, because they will not be restricted to companies such as ReGen, whose operation is a nuisance to the people in Warrenpoint? They will not be restricted to those rogue enterprises, and they can therefore look for more sustainable investment in the port that does not impact adversely on local communities?
265 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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