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Ulster Unionist Environment Spokesman, Sam Gardiner MLA, has called on Environment Minister Arlene Foster to set up a climate watch unit in her Department.

“Recent flooding episodes in Northern Ireland have convinced many reasonable people over climate change. I am asking the Minister to follow the climate scoping study which was completed after I pushed her predecessor Lord Rooker on the subject. I believe the effects of climate change are with us now and not in hundreds of years, as the Minister appeared to suggest when I quizzed her on the subject in the Assembly.”

“The one thing we must guard against is complacency. A climate watch unit would collate all the evidence of climate change on an on-going basis and could alert us to new patterns emerging. Cliamte change also needs to be actively built into government planning.”

“I believe the establishment of such a unit would help to reassure people that government is taking this seriously. We need to develop a planning culture which plans responses before flooding and other climate events happen and not just responds after the event when people’s homes are full of water.”

Ulster Unionist Environment Spokesman, Sam Gardiner MLA, today called for a second world heritage site for Northern Ireland. His comments come as the UN’s cultural organisation UNESCO meet in Christ Church New Zealand to decide if new sites should be added to the 830 long list.

“Northern Ireland has just one site – the Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast. Denmark, for example, which has a population of 5.4 million just over three times the population size of Northern Ireland, has four sites. If you take the population of Northern Ireland and Denmark, Northern Ireland could expect to have one more site. I am not saying these things are done on a pro-rata basis but I think this points to the need for at least one more site here in Northern Ireland.”

“The key point about world heritage sites is their tourist potential. To be a world heritage site says that a place is special. It is a draw for tourists.”

“The obvious candidate is the Mountains of Mourne area which is to be our first National Park. I think, however, we need to have an open competition to choose a site managed by a commission specially appointed for the purpose. Then the best bid could go forward to the next UNESCO meeting which is in 2008. The site is then assessed by a UNESCO expert team. One of the things they look at closely is the planned management of the heritage site. About 45 sites are in contention to be added to the list this year.”

In a joint statement on the Maze today UUP Chairman of the OFMDFM Committee Danny Kennedy and Deputy Chair of DCAL Committee David McNarry called on Dr Paisley to clear the air on the Maze project.

In a joint statement the UUP men said,

“It is important to draw the demarcation lines between the distinct issues arising out of the controversy surrounding the proposed maze development.

The decision to proceed with a national stadium rests with Edwin Poots the DCAL Minister whilst the decision to open an IRA shrine rests with Dr Paisley and the Office of First and Deputy First Minister.

A stadium does not necessarily have to be built on the Maze site. It could be placed elsewhere or not at all whereas the shrine is a project locked into the business plan adopted by Dr Paisley, who only last week signed a joint letter with Martin McGuinness shutting down the Maze monitoring panel and placing full responsibility for the development of the site with his own offices.

It is important therefore that OFMDFM clear the air regarding the shrine and indicate urgently when the shrine, as a tourist attraction, will be handed over to the DETI Minister Nigel Dodds.”

Sam Gardiner MLA, Ulster Unionist Assemblyman for Upper Bann and Environment and Heritage spokesman, today called on Environment Minister Arlene Foster to step in and save Richhill Castle in County Armagh.

“It is disgraceful that a landmark County Armagh building has been placed on an international ‘at risk’ list of monuments in danger. The rare early example of a 17th century dwelling-house - which is believed to be the first house on the Island of Ireland not designed for defensive purposes, appears on the World Monuments Fund’s list of 100 most endangered sites.”

“That reflects so badly on the Province that I am sure the Environment Minister will want to do something to lift this cloud of shame hanging over the Province.”

“Clearly a more imaginative approach than that which has prevailed so far will have to come from the Environment and Heritage Service. This superb house, the home of a branch of the famous Richardson family, is like Waringstown House in my own constituency one of the best examples of a mid 17th century manor house.

“Heritage equals tourism. Historic sites like this are a great tourist draw. Most tourists who stay in Northern Ireland come for historic site visits. Yet here we are with this great site in County Armagh and look at the state that it is in. Sometimes I wonder just what the Environment and Heritage Service do, especially after their abject and total failure to protect the Rath at the Grange in Waringstwon. It seems to me the sooner there is an independent Environmental protection Agency the better.”

David Burnside MLA, said today that the only credible way Culture Minister Edwin Poots could properly distance himself from the controversial Maze decision was by stepping aside from the decision and delegating it to another Minister.

“Minister Poots is inextricably linked to the Maze project, not just because the Maze is in his constituency but also because he has been a vociferous supporter of it as Chairman of the Maze Panel right up until he was appointed Minister.”

“When I asked him in the Assembly about what steps he was taking to distance himself from the Maze decision I received a one word answer – none. This is the arrogance of power. Minister Poots does not appear to understand there is a widespread perception that it is inappropriate for a Minister to preside over the award of a contentious major project like this to his own constituency.”

“I would suggest that Minister Poots delegates the task of making this particular decision to one of his Ministerial colleagues – possibly Finance Minister Peter Robinson or even Environment Minister Arlene Foster.”

“New-DUP seem to think that when they do a side deal with Sinn Fein that everyone else should have no say. I predict that this attitude will come back to haunt them.”

Speaking after today’s launch of the Review of Environmental Governance Northern Ireland report – ‘Foundations for the Future’ – Ulster Unionist MLA Sam Gardiner and Cllr Danny Kinahan have called it “a landmark report on the road to creating 21st century environmental governance for NI”.

The report proposes the creation of an environmental protection agency for Northern Ireland – in common with the rest of the UK – and new responsibilities for the Department of the Environment.

Mr. Gardiner said: “Northern Ireland owes a debt of gratitude to Tom Burke, Sharon Turner and Gordon Bell and the REGNI staff for their comprehensive report. Rising to the environmental challenges now facing us is not just an issue for global or national institutions – our devolved institutions also have a role to play. I look forward to working through the Assembly’s environment committee to ensure that the Report’s recommendations are given careful and due consideration.

“The Ulster Unionist Party particularly welcomes the Report’s support for an independent Environmental Protection Agency, giving people and communities in Northern Ireland at least the same standard of environmental governance as found elsewhere in the United Kingdom”.

Antrim Councillor Danny Kinahan, who also speaks on environmental issues for the Ulster Unionist Party, welcomed the Report and also urged local communities and businesses not to wait for government to set environmental agenda.

Mr. Kinahan said: “This long-overdue Report should set in place structures to allow us in Northern Ireland to protect and cherish our spectacular natural environment.

“But as the report itself recognises, in communities throughout Northern Ireland many people and organisations are already ahead of government in promoting responsible stewardship of our environment. While government must catch up with the rest of us, and fulfil its responsibilities, individuals, communities and businesses can make difference now.”

Ulster Unionist Member of the European Parliament Jim Nicholson MEP said today that an EU-wide ban on cat and dog fur imports will be enforced by the end of next year following a vote in the European Parliament this morning.

It is predicted that the ban on cat and dog fur imports will save the lives of more than two million cats and dogs every year in China.

The EU-wide ban on cat and dog fur imports, exports and trade will now become law in all 27 Member States by the end of 2008 at the latest.

Speaking from Strasbourg Mr Nicholson said,

“I am so glad that the horrific trade in cat and dog fur will soon be over. Over the long 8 year campaign to bring it to an end I have been flooded with emails and letters from constituents calling on European law – makers to act. Now, we have.

“I am delighted at the unanimous vote in the Parliament this morning, but the real winners are the two million cats and dogs who faced a gruesome death each year in China.

“Despite the long campaign to bring this horrific practice to an end, there are still many shoppers in Northern Ireland and Europe blissfully unaware that the items they purchase are actually made from the skins of cats and dogs. Labels give scant information of the source and often carry confusing names of non-existent animals.

“Slaughter of these animals is horrific, with cats strangled outside their cages as other cats look on and dogs noosed with metal wires are slashed across the groin until they bleed to death as the wire noose cuts into their throat.”

Ulster Unionist Parades Spokesman Michael Copeland today echoed calls from the community and parade organisers that stringent steps be taken to reduce and, ultimately eradicate the consumption of alcohol in the vicinity of parades.

In a statement Mr Copeland said,

“I am very aware of the very real concerns of parade organisers regarding the open consumption of alcohol in the vicinity of parades and band competitions. No one could defend the sight of hordes of youngsters, many of them in their mid-teens, toting blue bags and swigging from bottles.

I have recently worked closely with the organisers of several band parades and competitions, and, more interestingly, several parades forums. This issue is raised repeatedly. The responsibility ultimately lies with council officials and the police, the reality however necessitates the involvement of parade organisers and, in some cases, local forums.

Alcohol is central to the difficulties that affect this society in general. In the case of parades, it will, if left unchecked, totally diminish the integrity of the events. For almost a century the unionist population have on the 1st July recalled the events and honoured the memory of the Ulster Division and their comrades during the Somme offensive. Anyone attending such an event in the 1920’s under the influence of alcohol with a union flag tied round their waist would have been sent home in disgrace.

The present situation, where groups of intoxicated young people descend on parades must end as they disgrace the integrity of their own culture. Those seeking to eradicate this deserve support and funding.”

Ulster Unionist Member of the European Parliament, Jim Nicholson MEP has welcomed news that China’s 14 year old ban on trade in tiger parts is to remain in place but has called on the Chinese authorities to enforce the ban more stringently.

Mr Nicholson said that the decision to keep the ban in place would save wild tigers from extinction.

The Chinese Government had announced it would seek to lift the ban at a UN meeting of the Convention on International trade in endangered species at The Hague, which began on Sunday.

Under fierce pressure from tiger farms - which have been stockpiling tiger parts in preparation for the trade’s resumption – the Chinese government has argued the current ban has cost their economy £2 billion and done little to stem the fall in tiger numbers across Asia.

Mr Nicholson, who is a member of the European Parliament’s cross party animal welfare group said,

“This is welcome news but I would urge the Chinese government to stop turning a blind eye while local officials allow the ban to be flouted. The ban will only be effective if enforced at all levels and particularly in the animal parks that have been stockpiling tiger parts.

“Wild tiger populations in Asian forests could be as low as 5,000 compared to 100,000 a century ago. Lifting the ban would have wiped out the few wild tigers remaining. Meanwhile tiger farms – many of which have already clandestinely flouted the ban - would have turned one of nature’s most magnificent animals into little more than cattle.”

Ulster Unionist Environment and Planning Spokesman, Sam Gardiner MLA, today welcomed Chancellor Gordon Brown’s commitment to build five new eco towns on old industrial sites with over 100,000 new carbon neutral homes targeted at first time buyers.

“I am delighted that the next Prime Minister is giving a lead on this matter. This is a really important development and is a serious move in the right direction by government.”

“Now that this move is being made in Great Britain, I would like to see similar moves made here in Northern Ireland. I have been arguing for some time now that rural planning restrictions are far too tight and need to be reviewed. I believe that eco villages are a way forward for planning in the countryside. The countryside needs to be alive and full of people as it was in the past and not become some kind of sterile national park with no human activity anywhere.”

“We in Northern Ireland should develop eco villages on countryside sites to help ease the enormous pressure on the planning system. More land must be released to take some of the heat out of the housing market and to give first time buyers a chance to get on the housing ladder. Eco villages would be one good way to do this and end this preposterous ban on nearly all countryside building. One hundred years ago before the Irish Land Acts there were far more people living in the countryside than is the case today.”

“I am all for preserving the environment but I also want to balance this sensibly by keeping the countryside alive and reinvigorating rural communities. Eco villages are a real solution to the twin problems of rural depopulation and the current rural planning straight jacket.”