The Fisheries and Water Environment Bill - Protection of the Water Environment Consultation

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Closes 6 Nov 2025

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Protection of the Water Environment

The policy aims to ensure regulatory and policy frameworks protect water quality, ecosystems and the wider environment and establish appropriate and effective enforcement mechanisms to deter polluters and non-compliant operators.

1. What are your views on extending the 4 pillars which underpin the Lough Neagh Action plan to all waterways and using this approach to develop River Basin Management Plans?
2. Do you agree that the Department should increase maximum penalties on summary conviction for causing pollution of a waterway or groundwater up to £50,000?
3. Would you agree with the potential for unlimited fines for those pollution offences that are heard at Crown Court?
4. Do you agree that DAERA should have a more flexible enforcement system with increased powers to introduce fixed and variable penalties to act as an immediate deterrent for minor to moderate breaches of legislation?