SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 3The Office for Environmental Protection: Northern Ireland

PART 2Amendments of the OEP’s general functions

21

(1)

Section 23 (principal objective of the OEP and exercise of its functions) is amended as follows.

(2)

In subsection (6)—

(a)

after paragraph (a) insert—

“(aa)

how the OEP intends to determine whether failures to comply with relevant environmental law are serious for the purposes of paragraphs 7(1)(b) and (2)(b), 9(1)(b), 10(1)(b), 12(1)(b) and 13(1) and (6) of Schedule 3,”;

(b)

at the end of paragraph (b) insert “or paragraph 13(2) of Schedule 3,”;

(c)

omit the “and” at the end of paragraph (d);

(d)

after paragraph (d) insert—

“(da)

how the OEP intends to avoid any overlap between the exercise of its functions under paragraphs 6 to 8 of Schedule 3 (complaints) and the exercise by the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman of its functions, and”.

(3)

In subsection (7)(c) after “environmental law” insert “or Northern Ireland environmental law”.

(4)

After subsection (7) insert—

“(7A)

In this section “relevant environmental law” and “Northern Ireland environmental law” have the meanings they have in Part 1 of Schedule 3 (see paragraphs 5 and 18(2) of that Schedule).”

(5)

In subsection (8) after “sections 32 to 41” insert “and paragraphs 6 to 15 of Schedule 3”.