To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (i) what function Section 25 of the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 performs within his Department; and (ii) with whom enforcement of the provision currently lies.

i) Section 25 of the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 places a statutory duty on all Departments and Councils to promote the achievement of sustainable development in Northern Ireland. In performing this requirement my Department undertakes a wide range of actions including policy development, programme/project delivery and funding support for those areas which fall under my Department’s remit and in doing so seeks to further the delivery of the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Due to the breadth and depth of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and vast range of work DAERA undertakes I will provide a few high level examples of how my Department performs this function. Areas of delivery include the introduction of new NI Climate Change legislation, the protection of natural habitats and species (terrestrial, freshwater and marine) through nature

conservation designations and funding support, support to rural communities, promotion and support for sustainable agriculture, provision of education and monitoring drinking water quality amongst many other areas.

My Department has also worked to integrate the delivery of the SDGs into high level Government policy/strategy. In particular the recent draft NI Programme for Government and the draft Green Growth Strategy.

ii) There are no provisions in the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 to allow for enforcement by any NI Department.