Question Time: Environment Monday 11 November 2013
Oliver
McMullan asked Minister of the Environment, Mark Durkan, about fears
surrounding the proposed single
tier licensing system for taxis during today’s topical
questions. The proposed changes mean that all taxis can be hailed on the
street and do not need to be pre-booked with the intention of providing the
public with a cheaper
and safer taxi service. Black taxi drivers see this as a threat
to their livelihood. The Minister assured the Member that the one
year delay in bringing in the legislation is “in order to give the industry
and those within it time to prepare for the implementation so that its impact
will be less onerous on operators and drivers, and it will be more affordable
for them”.
Sammy Wilson
then asked the Minister if he planned to introduce a Climate Change Bill first
mooted by his predecessor, Alex Attwood. Mr Durkan revealed that he is
currently more in favour of a climate change strategy, looking to work with
businesses to reduce greenhouse gas and carbon emmissions.
During the scheduled
oral questions, Kieran McCarthy asked the Minister what discussions he has
had with Ards Borough Council in regards to supporting the Exploris aquarium
and helping to save it from closure. Mr
Durkan revealed that, after discussions with Friends
of Exploris and the Council,
he is open to the idea of providing a one-off capital grant if he is given
assistance from his Ministerial colleagues and dependent on the Council
committing to the long term future of Exploris and producing a satisfactory
business case justifying the public expenditure involved. He was even more
enthusiastic about the idea of maintaining a seal sanctuary saying that,
regardless of the success of the business case, his Department “will fund a
seal sanctuary, whether that be in Exploris or elsewhere”.
The Minister
also provided an update on the recycling targets set for local councils. As yet
local councils are not set any recycling targets but the Department is looking
into a recycling Bill which should include recycling targets of 60% for local
councils by 2020. The recently published waste management strategy ‘Delivering Resource
Efficiency’, the Department’s ‘Rethink
Waste’ programme and the emphasis on Eco-Schools
should ensure that these targets remain realistic.
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