Our Message to Belfast, Dublin, London & Brussels

Transcription

1 Our Message to Belfast, Dublin, London & Brussels Victoria Magreehan Lead Advocacy & Communications Group External Affairs Consultant, National Trust

2 Things I m going to talk about Advocacy & Communications Group What we ve been up to Some of what we ve been saying Where we ve been saying it Next steps.

3 Advocacy & Communications Group Objectives Coordinated voice of the green NGOs on Brexit related nature, environment and land use issues for Northern Ireland Build momentum amongst other key stakeholder groups to support our key messages and campaign activity Increase political support for nature so that more decision makers understand and take action to support nature during and post Brexit Increase public support for nature so that more people understand the issues and advocate for action

4 N/S & E/W Collaboration

5 Things I m going to talk about Advocacy & Communications Group What we ve been up to so far Some of what we ve been saying Where we ve been saying it Next steps.

6 Christian adams

7 Belfast June 2016 : NI Assembly Committee for Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs Brexit Consultative Committee co chaired by the DAERA and Economy Ministers

8 Brexit Consultative Committee DAERA Minister Michelle McIlveen and Economy Minister Simon Hamilton chaired the first meeting in Belfast of the Brexit Consultative Committee to engage with representatives of the agri-food and environment sectors.

9 Belfast Representation on DAERA Environment Stakeholder Group Early meetings with others key stakeholder groups UFU, NIFDA, NICVA

10 London Submission to House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee Sept 16 Briefing to the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly Oct 16 Lots of engagement Greener UK, LINKS, ELUK papers & events NI Affairs Select Committee briefing..

11 NI Affairs Select Committee Enquiry into the future of the land border with RoI Messages: Unique challenge associated with the Northern Ireland/ Republic of Ireland land and sea border many environmental problems have a strong cross border dimension. Importance of EU legislation as THE major driver of environmental protection and improvement in NI Common standards, level playing field Cooperation on X border issues: Common transboundary framework. The island of Ireland should be considered as a single bio geographic unit Importance of EU funding for environmental improvement Need for NI voice for environmental issues as the details and deals evolve

12 London Delegation (l r: John Martin, RSPB; Rebecca Hunter, Ulster Wildlife; Sean Kelly, NIEL; Victoria Magreehan, NT; Jennifer Fulton, Ulster Wildlife; Patrick Casement, NIEL)

13 Dublin Representation at All Island Civic Dialogue on Brexit X Border Environment & Brexit Conference, June 17 NIEL Coalition & Environmental Pillar, Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, June 17

14 Six Areas of Cooperation Agriculture Education Environment Health Tourism & Tourism Ireland Transport

15 Committee Report the Committee considers that a mechanism should be put in place to ensure the environmental regulation is aligned between Ireland and Northern Ireland and that post Brexit, common minimum standards are maintained. This could be reinforced by, for example, access to the Single Market could be dependent on adhering to environmental law standards. As Ireland and Northern Ireland share a land border and that following Brexit, UK and EU regulation may fall out of sync, this may be problematic. As solutions, the Committee believes the following should be explored: That the Government, Northern Ireland Executive, UK Government and EU partners work together to enable effective long term management of the environment; That the island of Ireland be considered a single bio geographic unit post Brexit; That effective mechanisms are put in place to resolve and manage cross border environmental issues post Brexit; That minimum common standards and approaches are sought between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and in the context of Northern Ireland, those standards are aligned as closely as possible to Ireland; That new funding arrangements should be established to replace current sources of EU funding.

16 Our Dublin Delegation (l r: Rebecca Hunter, Ulster Wildlife; Sean Kelly NEIL; John Martin, RSPB; Diane Ruddock, NT; Colum Delaney, RSPB; & photographer Michael Ewing Environmental Pillar)

17 Next Steps Building political support: Asks in for briefings with other Dublin and Westminster Committees Belfast? Brussels: Engagement with Negotiating Team

18 Brussels

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20 Next Steps Build momentum, working with other key stakeholder groups Public Communications Brand for Coalition Nature Matters NI Working together for a nature friendly Brexit Social media

21 Get involved. Sharing of info : feedback and briefings on Brexit issues you are working on Ways you can support our key messages and campaign activity

22 Nature Matters NI Working together for a nature friendly Brexit Me: Victoria Magreehan External Affairs, National Trust Lead for Coalition Advocacy & Communications Group victoria.magreehan@nationaltrust.org.uk vicmagreehan@livingni