Environmental Better Regulation Bill: Final Stage

Part of Executive Committee Business – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 10:45 am on 9 February 2016.

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Photo of Cathal Boylan Cathal Boylan Sinn Féin 10:45, 9 February 2016

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Ba mhaith liom labhairt i bhfabhar an Bhille. I will speak in favour of the Bill at its Final Stage. I start by putting on record my thanks to the Chair for the way in which she conducted business on the Bill and for all her work as Chair of the Committee. I know that she is leaving at the end of the mandate, and I thank her for her contribution. I take this opportunity to thank Mr Alban Maginness, who has made a valuable contribution to the Environment Committee over the last number of years. I also thank the departmental officials and the Minister for the way that they worked with the Committee.

The Minister outlined that the Bill will bring about a simplified regime and harmonise all environmental regulations, especially EU regulations and regulations on environmental practices. This is good legislation, but, as the Chair said, it is a skeleton Bill. The devil will be in the detail of the way in which the regulations are rolled out, and maybe the Minister will touch on that. We are going into a new and bigger Department, and I want to ensure that what we legislate for today will not be lost in the bigger Department. How the legislation and the regulations roll out will be telling.

On the face of it, what we are trying to do will mean that there is less of a burden on businesses. It is vital that, when we bring forward further regulations, we talk to and engage with businesses. Through the scrutiny process in Committee, we suggested amendments at Consideration Stage. Those were then brought forward by the Minister, and that is to be welcomed. If we are to get this right, we must continue to work with businesses. We have struck a balance in what we are trying to do with the Bill: some of the regulations and the subordinate legislation will strike a balance between helping and supporting the industry and improving our environment. I welcome the Final Stage of the Bill.