Edwin Poots
South Belfast · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I call Mr Eóin Tennyson. Again, this is Mr Tennyson's first opportunity to speak as a private Member, so I remind the House that it is convention that a maiden speech be made without interruption. However, if you choose to express views that provoke an interruption, you are likely to forfeit that protection.”
“Sorry — Ms Armstrong. My apologies. <BR /> <BR />That the Assembly could, in some way, get that money out when it is a UK Government responsibility. The UK Government have distributed it directly in Scotland and Wales, not through the Welsh Parliament and not through the Scottish Parliament.”
“I have not got time; I am sorry. <BR /> <BR />Ursula von der Leyen, who was in the Republic last week, made some of the most ridiculous claims about the British Government, who have supported Ukraine in a way that no other Government in Europe have and who have never engaged in the activity that was suggested by Ursula von der Leyen.”
“Today, a lot of statements have been made but there has not been a lot of fact behind a lot of what has been said. We have Michelle O'Neill, who walked out of her role as Health Minister — not for six months but for three years — and abandoned her position when we had Bengoa and there were all the problems with nursing that led to the str…”
“I need to deal with the issues first. <BR /> <BR />He referred to the Budget that he produced. No party supported that Budget. The Alliance Party did not support it, because it did not cover policing and prisons. Infrastructure did not support it, because it would not allow it to do the basics of what had to be done.”
“We had a circumstance where Sinn Féin repeated, month after month after month, that there were hundreds of millions to give to the public when that did not exist and when, in reality, Minister Murphy was racking up debt that will roll into next year, which will ensure that that will be a difficult financial year.”
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“The vermin problem is one for Belfast City Council. As I understand it, Belfast City Council is putting down full baiting for the vermin problem. I say to the people who resisted the opening of household waste recycling centres that a lot of this waste is waste that would normally have ended up there. That is why I pressed, some time ago, for household waste recycling centres to open. It was evident that waste that was being collected in people's backyards and gardens was causing problems, and some people have turned to an illegal sector that has gained financially from that. I believe that, in various council areas, there are household waste recycling centres that have still not opened.”
“I am happy to look again at the work that was done in developing the regulation and the legislation around this to see whether it needs to be refreshed or whether there are inadequacies. I do not believe that this will be a one-off case. I believe there to be other cases. Therefore, if we need to, we will have to take further steps to ensure that we clamp down heavily on this activity.”
“Fines are a matter for the courts. Those fines can be high if the courts decide to make them high, and we encourage the courts to fine heavily. We have a principle that "the polluter pays", and, consequently, NIEA will always seek to get back all the expenditure that it has involved in a case so that there is no public expenditure as a result of someone's criminal activity. It is for the courts to identify the level of fine over and above that, and we will encourage them to fine quite heavily individuals who engage in illegal activity. <BR /> <BR />There are people who engage in waste activity who are registered and carry out those activities legally; there are others who appear to be doing it who are not registered and consequently are doing it illegally.”
“I thank the Member for the question and for alerting me to the situation on Saturday afternoon. I can assure him that there will be a robust response. What has happened is unacceptable. It is not a registered site. Consequently, it is an illegal site, so NIEA's enforcement branch will be tasked with carrying out all the investigations and, on the basis of the information that it finds, with bringing forward a recommendation to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) to take the matter to court. It is a matter for NIEA enforcement branch, but I assure the Member that it will be robustly investigated. If the appropriate information comes forward, the matter will be taken further.”
“My Department has actively engaged with the site operator and representatives of the landowners and directed that the waste materials deposited at the site be removed as a matter of urgency. Subsequently, the landowner has engaged a legitimate waste management company, and works to remove waste from the Edenderry site have commenced today. My Department is present at the site and will continue to monitor progress daily. A full and thorough investigation is under way, and my Department will ensure that those responsible for the activity are vigorously pursued and face the maximum criminal sanction.”
“I am not interested in waste-of-time regulations, which are a burden to individuals and to the Government to have to implement. I am interested in taking real action and actually reducing the greenhouse gases and carbon that we produce, looking at how we can sequestrate it better, looking at how we can do things better with regard to working from home, and all those issues. That is something that all Ministers, in all our Departments, need to work on together. I am happy to give leadership on that.”
“Over the period in which we were in the European Union, it produced 2,800 regulations and laws for agriculture alone. What I hear from people on the other side of the Chamber is that there should be more regulation. I do not want more regulation; I want more action. One achieves much more by giving people leadership than by bullying them. We can give them that leadership. We can demonstrate to the public, unequivocally, that the actions that we take will actually be of real benefit to the environment. Bringing in regulations such as that which requires a farmer to request permission from DAERA to clean out what we refer to in the country as a "sheugh" did not do one bit of good for the environment — not one bit of good. It was just another regulation.”
“<BR /> <BR />Therefore, I do not support the motion. I cannot support it. We should not use language such as "emergency" or "crisis". Northern Ireland climate change legislation should not be rushed through and forced upon the Assembly without its being properly informed and considered. We need greater clarity and evidence on what should go into legislation and what that can deliver for Northern Ireland. Without that, there is a real risk of rushing through something that we would later find out has a detrimental effect and puts up barriers for businesses and industry, debilitating Northern Ireland's realisation of a just transition to a low-carbon, green economy. <BR /> <BR />I should say that we are leaving the European Union.”
“<BR /> <BR />Speaking of education, Ms Hunter raised an issue around the environment. If she checks the facts, she will find that Northern Ireland is leading when it comes to education on environmental issues. All our Eco-Schools are registered and have innovative programmes and activities delivering on issues, such as Rethink Waste, which I introduced. There are strong conditions for the Government to reinforce climate positive behaviours that have emerged during the lockdown, including increased remote working, cycling and walking. I believe that our leadership will play a key role in forming new social norms and expectations. I assure Members that my focus, as AERA Minister, is to find ways where we can all work together and achieve those positive outcomes, for nature and for business, and tackle the challenges of climate change.”
“People need energy and there needs to be a greater utilisation of that green energy, through the North/South interconnector, than is currently the case, but the parties that he will vote with are opposed to it. <BR /> <BR />I welcome Translink's recent recognition that there are quality buses available in Northern Ireland. It took them a long time to identify that there are buses manufactured here, and I welcome the fact that they are now acquiring them. Translink have their own pieces of work to step up to. Running empty buses or trains is not good for the environment. I recognise that public transport is critical, going forward, but it is critical that they make the right decisions with the limited funding that is available to all Departments, including Health and Education, to provide for the needs of the people of Northern Ireland.”
“I will not be having it; it will not happen on my watch that we damage the people who are trying to make a living on the hills, because those people are making a positive contribution. I want to ensure that we have the scientific evidence to demonstrate that they are making a positive contribution. Carbon capture exists in our trees, our hedges and our grasslands. The sequestration that takes place is significant, and we need the science to back us up and to demonstrate that we are doing some things that are real and are truly beneficial. <BR /> <BR />Mr Muir mentioned the North/South interconnector. The parties that he is going to go through the Lobbies with are the parties that have been most opposed to the North/South interconnector. I agree that we need to have an electricity system that is fit for purpose.”
“<BR /> <BR />I am conscious that Sinn Féin are bringing forward motions that would introduce legislation in a rushed way, and that would, inevitably, damage farming and make hill farming unsustainable in Northern Ireland. Mr McAleer and Mr McGuigan are talking out of both sides of their mouths. Mr McAleer is constantly protesting for hill farmers and Mr McGuigan is constantly protesting on something that would damage hill farmers. We need to be very clear about it; the legislation that has been introduced in other places would be damaging to Northern Ireland's agriculture and, consequently, damaging to the hill farmers who Mr McAleer likes to talk about a lot.”
“Subsequently, other scientists are indicating that the methane produced by cows has had relatively little impact on the environment. So, on that, we need qualitative science. I am thankful that organisations like Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) exist in Northern Ireland. We need qualitative science to demonstrate, in a very unequivocal way, the real contribution of agriculture. It is very easy to say that a cow produces so much methane but no one is saying what a cow does with regard to sequestration of carbon. She eats that lovely green grass; that green grass has roots that goes down into the soil and that green grass captures carbon and takes it down into the soil. The cow actually tramples grass down into the soil along with it, particularly cows that are grazed in the extensive systems in Northern Ireland.”
“We will see how time goes. <BR /> <BR />You will not find this Minister wanting when it comes to dealing with these issues. We will see who steps up to the plate. We will see what other Ministers will do in support of what I want to achieve when it comes to environmental issues. It will be extremely challenging. I will not go forward with a very limited proposal. I want to see a programme that will deliver real, tangible changes to the environment. <BR /> <BR />I have to say that the quality of scientific work has been challenged on the back of COVID-19. We have been told for years that cows make a dreadful contribution to greenhouse gases. Interestingly enough, during the COVID period, the number of cows did not go down, but greenhouse gases certainly did so.”
“I want to know what the ministerial colleagues of the individuals who have been speaking in this debate are doing in their Departments, because this issue is not solely for DAERA. Every Department has a role. Every Department has a responsibility. <BR /> <BR />Already in DAERA, in spite of COVID and in spite of all the problems, delays and distractions as a consequence, in the first six months, we have been able to bring forward the Forests for our Future strategy. We have also been able to bring forward our green growth strategy. I can tell you that we are working on programmes that will make real, significant change. Members of my staff are working extremely hard on developing ideas that will drive real reductions in greenhouse gases in my Department and, I trust, elsewhere.”
“Your colleague will have an opportunity to speak later, and you had 10 minutes. <BR /> <BR />Lord Deben produced a report for Westminster in which he set out a series of actions. He is looking for the following: investments in low-carbon and climate-resilient infrastructure; support for reskilling, retraining, innovation and research for a net-zero, well-adapted economy; upgrades to our homes and the building of new homes, ensuring that they are fit for the future; action to make it easy for people to walk, cycle and work remotely; tree planting, peatland restoration, green spaces and other green infrastructure. That cuts across not just my Department but all Departments.”
“When I became Minister, we were getting nowhere on renewable energy because of the planning legislation that existed, so we brought in the appropriate planning legislation. As a consequence of that, Northern Ireland is now producing over 40% of its energy from renewable sources. Mrs Barton quite rightly raised the issue of the utilisation of that, and a course of work needs to be done to address that. Nonetheless, we believe in actions, not words. What I hear from a lot of the Members who have come forward today are words. Having delayed the Assembly doing anything for three years, they want me to do something in three months. I want to ensure that we get those actions.”
“That is entirely a matter for the people who are looking at it. Importing gas from Russia or importing oil from the Middle East does not necessarily strike me as being more environmentally friendly than doing it here. Nonetheless, that is for those people. I have no idea whatsoever about that application, and I will not comment on it. It may come across my desk, with factual information that I can analyse then. <BR /> <BR />We need to do more when it comes to these issues. The last time that I was Environment Minister, the issue of recycling and waste was brought to me. At that point, our recycling rate was around 25%; it was in the low 20s, actually. They said, "We could aim for a target of 40% by 2020", but I said, "No. We're not doing that. We're going for 50%". They said, "It won't be achieved". It was achieved.”
“Are we going to pass motions which basically replicate what others have done and have not successfully challenged the greenhouse gas problem, or are we going to take actions? I am not a politician who gets too hung up on motions and regulations. I want to see actions and things that will make tangible differences in Northern Ireland and beyond. <BR /> <BR />When I was previously Minister —.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I appreciate the opportunity to respond. <BR /> <BR />A three-month time frame is impossible to achieve, and it is ridiculous to ask for it. The Member who has just spoken says that it is adequate time, yet his Party had five years in this office to bring forward a climate change Act and did not do it. It is quite ridiculous, Mr O'Toole, that the party of which you are a member, want me to do that in three months. <BR /> <BR />Northern Ireland has reduced its carbon footprint by 20% since 1990. Do we believe that more needs to be done? Of course more needs to be done. Transport, energy and agriculture are the big players and account for 65% of greenhouse gasses. What are we going to do?”
“I do not believe that the scheme has been providing more than the fishermen needed. We are looking at support that was reasonable, given the circumstances, and allows vessels to go out and catch fish at a point where the returns are lower but fishermen can sustain some of the fixed costs of the vessels. Therefore, I think that the scheme has delivered very well, and I welcome the support that it has received today from right across the House.”
“In recent weeks, a significant number of vessels, particularly those that catch nephrops and whitefish, have returned to their fishing operations on a managed basis. As more of the restrictions are eased across the hospitality sectors, some of the markets for fresh sea fish are beginning to reopen, but as things stand, they are at only about one quarter of the normal number. Therefore, a lot of the fish that is being caught is being frozen. That is fine. That is what happens in that industry, but it is not being frozen at a high price, and therefore support for the fishing industry is critical. <BR /> <BR />As I said in my opening remarks, the aim of the scheme was to provide prompt financial support to contribute to the vessels' fixed costs for three months and help the fleet to survive through one of the most difficult periods.”
“The decision to open garden centres is one that people can now easily recognise as having been the right decision, because the R number did not go up as a consequence and many people who enjoy gardening had the opportunity to go and acquire plants grown by the ornamental horticulture sector, avail themselves of those products and help support those businesses. That was the single most important thing that we could have done to support that sector, but it is not the only thing, and we have identified funding for it and will support it. <BR /> <BR />I will go back to the motion because that is what today's debate is about, and Ms Bailey's intervention was really a little distraction.”
“As we go forward, we need to support and sustain the fishing sector so that it can deliver investment into those communities and create offshore and onshore jobs in towns such as Kilkeel, Portavogie and Ardglass. <BR /> <BR />The horticulture sector is an entirely different sector, so there will not be a similar scheme for it. However, we are supporting that sector quite well with the funding that has been set aside. We have sought to assess the losses that have affected that industry and we will respond to that. I fought very hard to get garden centres open once again.”
“They will see that many boats are in very poor condition because those people have not been bringing in the amounts of income that would allow them to reinvest in the way that they should have been. As we go forward and face the challenges ahead of us, we are looking at substantial redundancies. We have already witnessed that with the likes of Thompson Aero Seating, Bombardier and others making announcements, for example, in the aeroplane sector. <BR /> <BR />One of the biggest employers in Kilkeel is a facility that makes aeroplane seats. There will be a real challenge for that town if there are job losses, because they are well-paid jobs in what has been a very good, sustainable industry to this point. If Kilkeel is affected, how will it respond? One of the areas in which it can do so is by way of a recovery in the fishing sector.”
“I thank Members for their contributions to the debate. Throughout the pandemic, my officials have continued to meet on a weekly basis with industry representatives from right across the areas that we cover to discuss the implementation of the support schemes. More recently, they have discussed what future support might be required for the fishing industry in the months ahead in order to assist its recovery. I can inform Ms Bailey that not only have we provided support for the fishing industry, but we will be looking to provide further support through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, and those discussions will continue. <BR /> <BR />Let me be very clear about this: if anybody wants to look at an industry that has been in decline over the course of the last 30 years, they just need to go for a drive around our fishing harbours.”
“Its aim was to provide prompt financial support to help the fishing fleet to cover its fixed costs for three months and to help it to survive what has been one of its most difficult periods. We have succeeded in delivering just over £1·3 million in much-needed support to the fishing fleet, and the feedback that my Department is getting from industry representatives is that the scheme has generally been well received by fishermen and that the aims of the scheme have, indeed, been met.”
“The vessel had to be a fishing vessel registered in Northern Ireland, and it must normally be active from March to May. The vessel must have had fish landings worth at least £10,000 in 2019, and it had to be less than 28 metres in length and be available to fish if there was a market for its product. The Department issued 172 letters of offer for support under the scheme, and, to date, grants totalling just over £1·3 million have been paid to 169 eligible applicants. I am pleased that we were able to quickly issue a single payment covering three months at once to the vast majority of applicants. <BR /> <BR />To sum up, when I announced the scheme in early April, it was the most far-reaching in the UK.”
“Vessels less than 10 metres could apply for a grant of £1,050 per month; vessels greater than 10 metres and less than 12 metres could apply for a grant of £1,800 per month; vessels greater than 12 metres and less than 15 metres could apply for a grant of £3,550 per month; and vessels greater than 15 metres and up to 28 metres in length could apply for a grant of £4,550 per month. The maximum funding per undertaking was capped at around £104,000, but no vessels were near that. <BR /> <BR />With regard to eligibility for support under the scheme, a number of conditions applied to ensure that support was directed to vessels that were dependent on fishing and were normally active during the months in which the markets had collapsed.”
“It was therefore important that the motion be scheduled prior to the summer recess, and I thank the Business Committee for doing so. <BR /> <BR />The Sea Fish Industry (Coronavirus) (Fixed Costs) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2020 — SR 2020 No. 76 — was made on 4 May 2020 and came into operation on 5 May 2020. The purpose of the scheme was to provide assistance to the sea fishing fleet towards the fixed cost of vessels for the three months from March to May. The assistance was delivered via monthly payments that were based on the length of the fishing vessel subject to qualifying conditions.”
“Those provide the necessary powers to make schemes of financial assistance with the approval of the Department of Finance and to make grants or loans for the purpose of reorganising, developing or promoting the sea fishing industry or contributing to the expenses of those who are engaged in it. Paragraph 2(4) of schedule 2 to the Sea Fisheries (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 provides that the scheme:”
“On 3 April 2020, I announced a £1·5 million support package to ensure that the Northern Ireland fishing industry was supported through the COVID-19 pandemic until such times as market conditions improved. I thank the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee for its initial scrutiny of the scheme and its subsequent written engagement with my officials to seek clarification of some of the details. The statutory rules that are the subject of the motion give effect to that £1·5 million support scheme. <BR /> <BR />The statutory rules were made in exercise of the powers conferred by section 15(1) and (2) of the Fisheries Act 1981 as read with paragraph 2(1) of schedule 2 to the Sea Fisheries (Northern Ireland) Order 2002.”
“There was a clear need to deliver financial support within a reasonable time frame, and I subsequently brought a paper in relation to the sea fishing industry scheme to the Executive and secured their support.”
“The scheme was developed in response to the unprecedented difficulties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. It had an immediate impact on the sea fishing industry after social-distancing measures and the collapse of the European and domestic fish markets had made trading virtually impossible. The Northern Ireland fishing industry faced extreme difficulties as a result of COVID-19 and was in urgent need of support to ensure that there was a profitable fishing industry to return to, once COVID-19 subsided. I am pleased to say that my Department responded promptly and engaged with representatives across the sea fishing industry to discuss the financial crisis that it faced.”
“There is not one smidgen of evidence to support that assertion. Therefore, those who are voting against the Bill are doing so based on a straw man. I am thankful that most of the House support the Bill. It is absolutely necessary if we are for real about protecting our environment.”
“We need to look at this as a holding position and then engage in how we can carry out further improvement. <BR /> <BR />The border was raised as an issue. It is not an issue. All the regulations that we have come from the European Union and we are carrying out the same regulations. The border is not an issue because we do not have different positions at this point. As we go forward, I suspect that we will face challenges, but the challenges may well be with people on the other side of the border keeping up with us. That may be the challenge. One will just have to wait and see. Opportunities exist there with the environmental improvement plan that we will facilitate and bring in, and that is something that we really need to do. <BR /> <BR />In closing, nothing in the Bill reduces protections.”
“There is a wide range of species of grasses and flowers there that we are allowing to be promoted. Projects like that are making a real difference. <BR /> <BR />I have previously been to Glenwherry to see a project to bring back many of the breeds of ground-nesting birds that we had practically lost. I have to be blunt: one of the ways that that was achieved was by the removal of foxes. Some people might not like that, but a ground-nesting bird is easy prey for a fox. Therefore, if you want to save the ground-nesting birds and the indigenous species that have been in this country for millennia, those are the actions that you have to take. I agree with Mr Blair; we need to improve those areas, bring back species and create habitats that are suitable in order for them to thrive.”
“<BR /> <BR />When it comes to casting unfounded aspersions on the OEP, as some people did, we do not have any evidence whatsoever that it will not be independent or robust. The body has not even been created yet and, already, people are casting aspersions that it will not be this, that or the other. That is a ridiculous position to adopt. <BR /> <BR />I have absolutely no doubt that further change is coming in how we deal with the environment and ensure that it is well kept. John Blair raised the issue of habitat and species loss and, again, that is something that, I hope, we are slowly reversing. <BR /> <BR />I launched the environmental challenge fund just the other day and to do that, I went up to Slievenacloy, which benefited from the challenge fund last year.”
“However, I will say that the environmental NGOs in England, Scotland and Wales do not hold up the work of the agencies there as something that is so much better than the work that the NIEA does. Everybody can repeat it, but it is not some great panacea that is going to deliver brilliance that we currently do not have. We have an agency that is left to get on with its job and, in my opinion, does quite a good job. If the House wishes to create an independent environmental agency, that is absolutely fine, but it is not the panacea that some people make it out to be. It may be good but it may not be any better than what we currently have. That assessment needs to be carried out.”
“I have to counter that and say that we have not seen environmental degradation; we have seen environmental improvement. The Member said that our waterways and air quality are not good enough. I agree with her, and there is more to be done and more that we will do to improve water quality and air quality. We do not need the European Union to tell us how to do it. We know how to do it ourselves and we need to tackle it. The damage that is being done to many of our waterways is disgraceful and horrible and it needs to stop. We will work out how we can address that better than is currently the case but we certainly do not have to go backwards. <BR /> <BR />I do not have a particular issue with an independent environmental agency.”
“— and to respond to people and to the community's needs. I will give way in a moment. The people in this Chamber know better the needs of the people in Northern Ireland than a commissioner in Europe, who could be from any one of 27 countries.”
“I know that some people were very slavish in their attitude towards the European Union and their desire to stay in it. Have a little confidence in your own ability to make your own laws, to do what is right for your own people —”
“Then, if we devise something better, we can put it through the House, approve it and implement it, but a sunset clause does not help us to do that. <BR /> <BR />Some suggested that the Bill does not provide adequate standards. Mr O'Toole was one of the Members who suggested that. He has gone. He must not have been satisfied with the European Union, because we are implementing its laws and standards and they will carry on. So, Mr O'Toole, who seems to be very fond of the European Union, must not be particularly satisfied with retaining the European Union regulations, because the Bill is doing that. Again, if divergence is to take place, there is nobody else to do it but this House. So what have we to fear? Only ourselves, in that instance. We will be taking over the decisions on environmental legislation from the European Union.”
“The LCM is something that we are bringing to you now that will ensure that the environmental protections that we currently have are not diminished. Therefore, not agreeing the LCM, as the Green Party suggests, would be foolhardy. It is like Emperor Nero fiddling while Rome burns. In this instance, whilst the Green Party fiddles, the environment burns. <BR /> <BR />Some Members raised the idea of a sunset clause. What is the benefit of a sunset clause? It merely puts pressure on you to reach a particular date. If you do not reach it, you lose the protections. Therefore, having a sunset clause in a Bill such as this is a high-risk activity. It is much better to have something that offers protections.”
“However, a Northern Ireland member will be appointed by DAERA, and that member will be expected to have experience in environmental law, science and/or regulation, so that is what will be expected of us. <BR /> <BR />In terms of a regulatory body to deal with the private sector, the NIEA is, has been and will continue to be the regulatory body that deals with the private sector. No gap is created by introducing the OEP. The work of the OEP simply replaces the work previously carried out by the European Commission. It does not change it; it replaces it. It does the same work and takes the same actions. Therefore, the argument about regression and a move backwards is not something that can be backed up. <BR /> <BR />There is nothing to stop the Assembly or my Department introducing our own environment Bill.”
“Mr McGuigan raised the issue of fines not being high enough. That was after his having raised the issue of the independent environmental agency. Who imposes the fines? Many of the fines that are actually in law are unlimited, so who institutes the fines? Is it some politician who does not want to fine the individuals enough, or is it some government body that is influenced by politics? No. It is the independent courts. So, if you are looking for independence, and then you complain about people who have independence, the argument does not stack up particularly well. <BR /> <BR />The OEP can be extended to an exclusive Northern Ireland body, and the Assembly can decide that. If we want to break away, that too is a matter for the Assembly. It is not something that we are stuck to.”
“<BR /> <BR />Time is of the essence. People may have great aspirations. There is nothing wrong with having great aspirations for the environment, but, at this moment in time, we are leaving the European Union properly on 31 December. We will not do what some Members would wish us to do in legislation by that time, so we need to do what we can do. What we can do in terms of this legislation is ensure that nothing changes, nothing is reduced and we are not in a worse position than we currently are. That is what will happen if the Bill passes. The notion that we can legislate for something other than the OEP is for the birds.”
“A number of issues were raised by Members. A number of the same issues were raised by a range of Members, and I will seek to respond to them. <BR /> <BR />Interestingly enough, one of the first issues that was raised was one of the last that was raised, and that was non-regression. I have to ask the House a simple question: who is regressing? Who is granting regression? Nobody is proposing regression. There is nothing in the Bill that facilitates regression. Regression will happen only if the House decides that it wants to reduce environmental law. Regression lies in the hands of the Assembly, so regression is a straw man and should not have any bearing on people's views of the Bill: there is nothing in the Bill that creates regression. The only opportunity for regression is if Members wish to regress in environmental law.”
“<BR /> <BR />Our environment is precious in its own right, but it also contributes significantly to our economic prosperity and the physical and mental health of our citizens. Therefore, it deserves to be properly protected and improved for the benefit of all. I believe that the provisions of the Bill that I have highlighted will help us to achieve that. Accordingly, I commend the motion to the House.”
“<BR /> <BR />While that concludes the list of provisions for which legislative consent is being sought, I would also like to highlight the commencement provisions in clause 131 to reinforce the point that I made earlier about the implementation of these provisions being subject to the consent or approval of the Assembly. With the exception of clause 125 and its associated schedule 19, all of the provisions that I have outlined to you today require the Assembly's approval of a draft commencement order before being brought into operation. Members will, therefore, quite rightly, have the opportunity to debate the merits of the Bill's provisions before bringing them into force.”