The DUP opposed a motion at Stormont on Monday which called for a new environmental regulator to be established in NI before the next Assembly election.

Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir is currently seeking approval from the NI Executive for a new regulator, after a review on the issue was completed last month.

The review by a three-person panel recommended that enforcement powers held by the NI Environment Agency, which is part of DAERA, should be moved to a new independent body.

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At Stormont on Monday, the non-binding motion on the new environmental regulator was tabled by the SDLP, supported by Sinn Féin, Alliance and the UUP.

However, with the DUP voting against the motion, it has cast further doubt on whether Minister Muir will get the new body set up before the next election in May 2027.

A key issue raised during the debate by the DUP’s Michelle McIlveen was that there is no plans in place for how the proposed body will be funded.

“Rather than token gestures or bureaucratic reshuffles, if the Minister truly wants to lead on the environment, he should start by fixing the system that he already controls,” she said.

Responsibility

McIlveen also argued that a new body which is independent of DAERA will allow ministers at the department to “avoid responsibility and accountability” on environmental issues.

In his remarks, Minister Muir suggested DAERA officials will only look at the cost of the new regulator if there is agreement in principle from the NI Executive to proceed with the plan.

“My officials will consider detailed costs to establish a new independent environmental protection agency and will bring formal proposals back on that in due course,” he said.

The Alliance Party MLA said a new environmental regulator will have “oversight by an independent board” and “scrutiny mechanisms” which will be developed by MLAs at Stormont.

“A regulator that operates independently should give greater confidence that issues are being tackled proportionately and regulation applied fairly,” Minister Muir said.