AQW 4778/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 17/10/2022
Answered On Date: 24/10/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail what work that is being undertaken to prepare for the potential scrapping of EU environmental laws, including the creation of similar legislation for Northern Ireland.

Answer:

Following EU Exit my Department delivered a significant programme of legislation to ensure the preservation of environmental protections and standards in domestic legislation.

The UK Government has recently introduced the Retained EU Law (REUL) (Revocation and Reform) Bill which proposes that retained EU Law is repealed, amended or extended from 31 December 2023. My officials are considering the potential impact of the REUL Bill along with colleagues across the NICS and in other UK jurisdictions.

It is my intention going forward that Northern Ireland continues to have a clear statutory basis for protecting the environment as has been the case throughout the changes resulting from the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.