The Institute of Public Health responded to a consultation on a discussion paper on Environmental Plans, Principles and Governance for Northern Ireland, launched by the Department of Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs (DAERA) in December 2020. The discussion paper sought the views of stakeholders on environmental plans, principles and governance after the ending of the EU withdrawal transition period. 

Key discussion points relate to an Environment Bill introduced to Parliament on 30 January 2020, which gave Northern Ireland Ministers the option to: 

• extend the jurisdiction of an Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) to Northern Ireland; 

• embed environmental principles into policy decisions of Northern Ireland government departments; and 

• prepare and publish environmental improvement plans.