Poots welcomes new appointment of a Northern Ireland Non-Executive Member of the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP)

Environment Minister Edwin Poots has announced the appointment of Malcolm Beatty OBE as a Northern Ireland Non-Executive Member of the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP).

The appointment to the OEP is effective for a five year term from 1 April 2022.

Confirming the new appointment, Minister Edwin Poots said: “Approval for the OEP to operate in Northern Ireland was recently sought and obtained from the NI Assembly. The OEP extended its remit to function here on 28 February and I have taken steps to ensure a NI member was in place as soon as was practicable.

"I want to welcome Malcolm into this new role. He brings a depth of knowledge, skills and experience, not only in matters relating to the environment and the countryside, but also in governance, leadership and decision making. Malcolm will bring extensive knowledge and insight on NI matters to the OEP board.”

Dame Glenys Stacey, Chair of the OEP, said: “I very much look forward to welcoming Malcolm to the OEP Board. I know that he brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience and that he will make a valuable contribution to our work to protect and improve the environment.

“We are now focused on putting everything in place to enable us to act on our welcome new responsibilities in Northern Ireland and this appointment is another significant step forward.”

The functions of the OEP will be to: provide independent scrutiny and advice on environmental law and policy; investigate environmental complaints; and, if necessary, take enforcement action against public authorities who breach environmental law.

Notes to editors: 

1. The Office for Environmental Protection was established in November 2021 under the provisions of the Environment Act 2021. It was vested with its powers on 24 January 2022.  The (Environment Act) Commencement and Saving Provision (Northern Ireland) Order 2022 which was approved at the NI Assembly on 22 February 2022 allowed Northern Ireland to come under the OEP’s jurisdiction.

2. Biographical details of Malcolm Beatty are:

Malcolm Beatty, a Chartered Forester and Chartered Public Finance Accountant, worked for many years in the Northern Ireland Civil Service, retiring from DAERA in 2018.   Amongst other posts in the agricultural sector Malcolm was Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of the Northern Ireland Forest Service, and the NI Chief Plant Health Officer.  In 2019 he was awarded an OBE for services to the environment in Northern Ireland.

Malcolm is a Trustee, Company Director and Honorary Treasurer of the Field Studies Council (FSC), a UK environmental and educational charity. He is a Trustee and Company Director of Centre Ministries, a faith charity operating in England and NI. Malcolm is also a school governor for St. Colman’s High School and Sixth Form College.

3. The OEP Northern Ireland Non-Executive Member role is remunerated at £415 per diem with an anticipation of working 4-6 days per month.

4. Political activity plays no part in the selection process, however, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees to be published. The appointee has not been involved in any political activity during the past five years.

5. This appointment has been made as closely as is practicable in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland (CPA NI) Code of Practice.

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7.  All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk

8. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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