Ministers publish responses to Better Regulation and Simplification Report

Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew and Environment Minister Edwin Poots today released their responses to the Agri-Food Better Regulation and Simplification Review report.

The review, which made a total of 85 recommendations, aimed at reducing administrative burdens and embedding better regulation principles when developing future DOE and DARD policy, was carried out by an independent panel headed by Michael Dowling.

Before issuing these responses, Ministers consulted with stakeholders regarding the panel’s proposals in order to assess feasibility and options for implementation.

Minister Gildernew said: "The recommendations in the Better Regulation and Simplification Review provided DARD with an opportunity to review and evaluate a wide range of policy areas and regulations. This Department’s response, published today, outlines many positive steps that will, or have been, taken to reduce the administrative burden on the Agri-Food industry. A dedicated unit within DARD will be established to draw up and co-ordinate an action plan to ensure that the accepted recommendations and other enhancements to our policy development and stakeholder engagement will keep this burden to a minimum."

Minister Poots said: "DOE is committed to the principles of better regulation and supports the panel’s findings and recommendations. The report gives us an opportunity to focus on actions to reduce unnecessary regulatory and administrative burdens without undermining the underlying objectives of regulation. It allows us to build on the progress already made by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency through its Better Regulation Programme.”

The DARD and DOE responses are available for viewing on the Departments’ respective websites.

Notes to editors:

1. The Report is the work of an independent panel, comprising Mr Michael Dowling (Chair), Mr David Graham and Dr Brian Jack which was appointed to undertake the review and report on the main administrative burdens falling on the agri-food sector.

• Michael Dowling is currently the Head of Agri Strategy, Allied Irish Banks. From 1989 to 1997 Michael was Secretary General of the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and had previously held a number of posts in the Department, which included Assistant Secretary responsible for EU and international trade policy, Head of Milk Policy Division, and Head of Agri-monetary Unit.
• David Graham is a former Chief Executive of Fane Valley Co-operative Society Limited and a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies.
• Brian Jack is a member of the United Kingdom Environmental Law Association and of the Agricultural Law Association and is also a case review editor for the Environmental Law Review.

2. The DOE response can be accessed on the DOE website.

The DARD response can be accessed on the DARD website.

3. All media queries to DARD Press Office on 028 9052 4619 or DOE Press Office on 028 9054 0003. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.