Minister Not Ruling Out Green Watchdog for Ulster

By David Gordon

A government-appointed panel is due to report next month on this proposed reform, which is backed by a coalition of leading conservation organisations.

The DUP, which has taken the environment ministry in the new Stormont executive, has been the most sceptical of the local parties on the issue.

But Mrs Foster told the Belfast Telegraph that there were "mixed views" within her party.

"I don’t have any fixed view and I want to be entirely open- minded in relation to it," she said.

The future Minister said she wanted to meet environmental groups pressing for the change at an early stage.

She is also hoping to meet shortly with the chairman of the Review of Environmental Governance, the government panel examining the subject.

Its report is expected to recommend some form of new environmental protection agency (EPA) for the province.

This would involve the transfer of part of the remit of the Department of the Environment (DoE) to a body that is publicly- funded, but operates out of central government control.

Its likely roles would include acting as a general champion for the environment, as well as enforcing anti-pollution and nature protection regulations.

Other parts of the UK and the Republic have had an EPA for a number of years – a point made by green campaigners.

Mrs Foster also said she was looking forward to the challenge of being Environment Minister.

The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA cited planning, road safety and the review of public administration as among the main issues for the Department.

"Road safety is a big issue for me, coming from a constituency which has suffered quite a bit from road deaths."

Referring to the importance of the DoE, Mrs Foster added: "Obviously, it’s not a big spending ministry like health and education.

"At the same time, it has some pretty fundamental issues to deal with."

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