AQW 2386/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 19/02/2020
Answered On Date: 05/03/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (i) what plans he has to review legislation related to Japanese knotweed; and (ii) whether he would consider introducing measures designed to address Japanese knotweed similar to those contained in the Infrastructure Act (2015).

Answer:

I currently have no plans to review legislation related to Japanese knotweed or to introduce similar measures to those contained in the Infrastructure Act 2015.

The intent of the 2015 provisions is primarily to remove newly arrived invasive species or those of relatively restricted distribution. It is not envisaged that these powers would be used to control Invasive Species such as Japanese Knotweed, which is widespread and well established across Northern Ireland.