§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will establish an Environmental Protection Agency for Northern Ireland. [120754]
§ Mr. George HowarthThere are no plans at present to establish an Environmental Protection Agency for Northern Ireland. The Environment and Heritage Service, a Next Steps Executive Agency within the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland, was set up on 1 April 1996 to assume operational responsibility for environmental issues. At devolution, the Northern Ireland Assembly decided to place environment and heritage responsibilities in the new Department of the Environment. I would expect any re-examination of the way in which such matters are handled to be considered by the devolved administration.