To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on any actions to address waste crime.

Mr Muir

The environmental crime unit within the regulation and enforcement division of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency continues to investigate and prosecute the most serious and persistent environmental crime in Northern Ireland with a particular focus on waste criminality. The environmental crime unit focuses its resources on the cases that present the most significant risk to the environment and public health and utilises powers contained in the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 to pursue prosecutions. Such prosecutions are often coupled with confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, which are aimed at ensuring that those convicted of the crimes are deprived of their assets and asserting the "polluter pays" principle. The environmental crime unit continues to adopt a multi-agency approach through operational cooperation with other government agencies. By working with partner agencies, the environmental crime unit takes a comprehensive approach to tackling illegal waste criminality through its effective inter-agency collaboration.

Mr Muir

That is an important area. A robust, fair, proportionate and targeted enforcement regime is essential to act as a deterrent and champion the principle of "the polluter pays", and I am committed to delivering it. Key to it will be an independent review, including a consultation on the environmental crime sentencing framework around fines and penalties. I have made strengthening environmental governance a priority and, working with the Department of Justice, we will carry out a review of penalties and fines for environmental crimes and identify improvements that can be made to ensure a more streamlined and effective penalty regime. I want to ensure that our penalty regime is effective in the protections it offers for our environment and can drive compliance with new farm sustainability standards. In the meantime, I have allocated resources from my departmental budget to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to strengthen regulation on enforcement, particularly for water quality. An enforcement liaison group has been established in the Department. The group will provide expertise and input into the preparation for the consultation on the enforcement of fixed penalty notices that is being led by the fisheries Bill team. Officials intend to launch the consultation and review in May 2025.

Mr K Buchanan

We see a lot of waste along our roadsides — crisps packets, food waste, cartons etc. What can the Minister do, along with councils, to address the issue? It is getting worse year after year, and we see no resolution.

Mr Muir

One of the key actions that we can take is public messaging, which is why Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful has a key role in this as well. We want to get a clear message to the public that you should not litter, because it creates an unsightly mess across Northern Ireland, creates environmental damage and we have to put in resources to clean it up. Collectively, that is the message that we want to give. I find the relationship that we have with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful very worthwhile and helpful.