Motion or amendment: Blocking of an Independent Environmental Protection Agency

Motion or amendment by Mr John Blair on 17 February 2026.

MLA: Mr John Blair
Party at the time: Alliance Party
Date: 17 February 2026
Type: Motion or amendment
Business: Motion · Private Members' Motion
Heading: Blocking of an Independent Environmental Protection Agency
Assembly identifier: Document 471682

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Text

Blocking of an Independent Environmental Protection Agency
That this Assembly strongly condemns the blocking of the establishment of an Independent Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) by the Democratic Unionist Party; further condemns the hypocrisy of those who express concern over the Lough Neagh crisis, the illegal dump at Mobuoy and wider environmental degradation, but refuse to support plans to enhance environmental accountability and safeguards; notes that a commitment to an IEPA was contained within the New Decade, New Approach Deal; agrees that it is undemocratic for an IEPA to be unilaterally vetoed by one party which represents a minority in the Assembly as a whole; and calls on the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to take meaningful steps to ensure that the commitment in New Decade, New Approach is implemented.

130 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.