Debate contribution: Independent Environmental Protection Agency

Debate contribution by Mr Gareth Wilson on 10 March 2026.

MLA: Mr Gareth Wilson
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 10 March 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Independent Environmental Protection Agency
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5437203

Text

I find the motion and, indeed, the entire issue of the creation of an independent environmental protection agency to be a distraction. It is a distraction from inaction. I say that because there is much to be concerned about in the Minister's Department, and I feel strongly that the creation of yet another quango will do little to improve the outlook for the rural economy and, indeed, for those who live in the countryside or who derive a living from the land. It cannot be dismissed or downplayed that we already have the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. Unlike an independent environmental protection agency, the NIEA exists. From what I have understood over the past three months, that agency is the regular focus of criticism from the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. Although the NIEA does do a lot of good work, it also fails to meet expectations on many issues. I think especially of the planning consultation function and the impact that delays with consultation responses are having on Northern Ireland's economic outlook. I would argue that resource and time should be focused on and targeted at that agency, with a clear view taken on improving it rather than on creating another new agency. It goes without saying that important projects, such as those on farms, that would see investment in new systems and ways of working, using new materials and new methods, are being held up. Such projects would ultimately benefit the environment, yet they are being held up. Moreover, Shared Environmental Services exists as a consultee organisation and also causes significant concern as a result of delays with consultee responses on planning. Indeed, it seems that that organisation enjoys a type of inaccessibility akin to that of a secret service. Will the creation of another quango, as the Alliance Party motion suggests, help in any way when resources are very clearly stretched?
I will.
What I have seen from Minister Givan since I have come to the House is a bullet train of progress. That is what I would call it. We have seen a lot of progress from Minister Givan. It is relevant. People have come to me. I have been at schools, and they are very content with Minister Givan's progress. People do not have to lie to me about that. Teachers and members of the public come to me, saying, "We like what Minister Givan's doing". Unfortunately, the flip side of that is —.
Yes?
That is OK; will do. I was just responding to the Minister and giving him his place. I will continue. I disagree that the creation of another quango, as the Alliance Party motion suggests, will help in any way. We already have the Office for Environmental Protection. I quote from its website:
"The Northern Ireland Assembly has given its approval for the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) to become the independent environmental oversight body for Northern Ireland."
The Minister and the Alliance Party want to further abdicate responsibility. A new quango, as they propose, would provide a useful diversionary shield for the Minister. That would weaken lines of communication and direct accountability and shift the focus away from the Department's remit and responsibilities. That should not be permitted. Consider the budgetary pressures in DAERA. The bovine tuberculosis bill is projected to exceed £60 million, as we discussed at the Committee last week. Do we need to put yet another quango into the Minister's portfolio, when his Department clearly struggles to tackle the costly problem of bovine TB? Rather than adding to the bureaucracy, the delay, the cost, the inaction and the public's frustration, the focus should be firmly on improving the performances of existing bodies under the Minister's control. We should not be farming out responsibility to quangos. I do not support the motion.

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

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