AQW 11353/17-22
Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim
Tabled Date: 01/12/2020
Answered On Date: 02/02/2021
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail (i) when Phase 2 of the third Special Protection Area (SPA) network review will be published; (ii) when his Department will publish the Phase 3 report of the third SPA network review; and (iii) the timetable for implementation and review of the recommendations from both the second SPA network review (2001) and the third SPA network review (2016).
Answer:
My officials in the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) are involved in undertaking the third UK SPA network review, along with colleagues from the other UK nature conservation agencies. As this is a UK review, timetabling and publication is not a decision solely for the Northern Ireland Executive. Ministers from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Devolved Administrations along with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), will be responsible for deciding when to publish the findings from this Review. I can, therefore, answer as follows:- At this time I cannot detail when Phase 2 of the third UK SPA network review will be published. Once advised to by my officials, I will consider whether to approve the outputs of Phase 2 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive. I cannot detail when a Phase 3 report on the third UK SPA network review will be published, as this follows the outcomes of Phase 2. Once advised to by my officials, I will decide whether to approve a report on Phase 3 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive. I cannot detail a timetable for implementation and review of the recommendations from both the second SPA network review (2001) and the third SPA network review (2016). The outcomes of Phase 2 of the third UK SPA network review will first need to be finalised, considered and approved by Ministers across the UK before my officials can propose any advice for my consideration and approval on a timetable for implementation of the third UK SPA network review. Once the outcomes of Phase 2 of the 3rd UK SPA network review have been published, I look forward to considering the advice for the Northern Ireland protected site network. I fully appreciate the key role that a resilient and coherent network of designated nature sites and the protection afforded to them will play in delivering a truly Green Growth recovery after the COVID-19 global pandemic, to support the achievement of climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development goals.
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