AQW 4778/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
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.
Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 17 October 2022
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 17 October 2022
- Answer due by
- 1 November 2022
- Answered
- 24 October 20227 days after tabling
- Priority question
- No
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has recently introduced the Retained EU Law (REUL) (Revocation and Reform) Bill which proposes that retained EU Law is repealed, amended or extended from 31 December 2023.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.