Ford condemns Foster environment failure

10.31.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 27th May 2008

Alliance Party Leader, David Ford, has condemned the decision of Environment Minister Arlene Foster not to establish an independent Environment Protection Agency.

David Ford said: "I do not believe that appointing two outside members to the board of the Environment and Heritage Service will give it the independence that an environmental agency needs and deserves.

"It is clear that the Environment and Heritage Service will still report to the Minister of the Environment and still be subject to political direction, and possible political interference.

"The opportunity to amalgamate a number of agencies dealing with the environment has been lost and Northern Ireland will suffer.

"In practice, I do not believe that the Department will get the independent advice that the Courts have said is required.

"Rather than laying herself open to legal challenge in Europe, the Minister should have been much more open and creative."

ENDS