Further delay to Climate Change Commissioner appointment is unacceptable, says Bradshaw.

Alliance Executive Office spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has said clarification is needed from the First Minister and deputy First Minister (FM/dFM) around the ongoing delay in the appointment of a Climate Change Commissioner, after regulations to do so received all-party consent at committee.

Paula Bradshaw TEO

During questions to the deputy First Minister today (28 Jan) surrounding a meeting of the British-Irish Council, the dFM claimed there were ‘problems’ with the legislation.

 

Ms Bradshaw has said: "The Northern Ireland Climate Change Commissioner Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 were approved by TEO Committee on 15 January, after correspondence to clarify some issues occurred in late November and early December. They are now in force and there is no reason not to proceed with appointment of the role.

 

"Today, we heard the deputy First Minister indicate that there were further issues with the legislation. Given our understanding was that all such issues had already been resolved and subsequently all-party approval was secured for the regulations, we need urgent clarity around the basis of this ongoing delay of acting on them.

 

"A year on from restoration, numerous commissioner appointments not only remain unmade, but the recruitment processes for them have not even started. Such dysfunction cannot be allowed to continue unquestioned or unchallenged.

 

"Today's statement was about a British-Irish Council meeting, at which meeting net zero targets was indicated as a key priority. The appointment of a Climate Change Commissioner is crucial to those efforts, and it’s time the First Minister and deputy First Minister got on with the job without further delay."