Rosemary Barton MLA, Ulster Unionist Party Agriculture spokesperson, has stated that the months ahead provide a number of opportunities for all stakeholders to engage and make proposals to improve the Climate Change Bill.
Mrs Barton said:
“The Climate Change Bill has been moved in the Assembly and is due to have its Second Stage in May. It has the support of a wide range of parties in the Assembly. These parties have a majority in the Assembly to get the Bill passed.
“The Bill has yet to undergo its Committee scrutiny stage and is still open to amendment. This will take many months and there will be a number of opportunities to make changes. As part of that scrutiny process the Ulster Unionist Party could bring forward its own amendments to the Bill.
“The Bill itself contains ‘just transition principles’ which require it to take account of Northern Ireland`s social, fiscal and economic situation. That includes the agri-food sector. That is why we are listening to genuine concerns and want to hear proposals on how the Bill can be improved upon.
“It is on that basis that we engaged with the Ulster Farmers` Union and others and would like to continue to do so. We also look forward to receiving their proposals. For clarity, the Ulster Unionist Party met with the Ulster Farmers` Union, on Friday 16 April 2021. The Ulster Unionist Party delegation included Party Leader, Steve Aiken OBE MLA, Agriculture spokesperson Rosemary Barton MLA and Climate Change spokesperson, John Stewart MLA. The Ulster Farmers` Union delegation included President of the Ulster Farmers` Union, Victor Chestnutt, Vice-President, David Brown, Environment Committee member, Ian Buchanan and a senior UFU policy officer.
“We feel it is better to play a constructive role to help shape the Climate Change Bill rather than outright rejection considering that the majority of parties in the Assembly are backing it and can vote it through. There has been a lot of focus on what people are against, but there also needs to be focus on what people are in favour of.
“The UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) provide ongoing significant findings from their continuing work, much of which could help shape the Climate Change Bill.
“Sir Peter Kendall, former President of the National Farmers` Union, has also been asked to undertake an independent strategic review of Northern Ireland`s Agri-Food sector by Northern Ireland`s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and also the Department for the Economy. The review will include addressing climate change and the environmental challenges.
When Sir Peter Kendall`s review was announced, he said: “There’s no denying that the climate change and environmental challenges are massive but they also give NI agri-food a chance to set itself apart as a sector which is rising to those challenges while driving forwards to be internationally competitive.”
“We look forward to hearing the results of that review which should be completed within six months, as these could feed into the shaping of the Bill. We will continue to engage constructively with all stakeholders, including the Ulster Farmers` Union.”