Public Affairs

Consultation update

Stormont sky Sm Details of significant consultation exercises currently being carried out by government departments and other public sector bodies in Northern Ireland. Queries on individual consultations should be referred to the organisation concerned, as outlined.

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
There are no current consultations

Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure
There are no current consultations

Department of Education
There are no current consultations

Department of Finance and Personnel
There are no current consultations

Department for Regional Development
There are no current consultations

Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister
Good relations indicators

Opened 21 January

As part of the Together: Building a United Community strategy, OFMDFM pledged to review the existing good relations indicators. These were developed to monitor progress under the previous Shared Future strategy.

Comments and responses should be submitted by 15 March to: Statistics and Research Branch, Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, Room E4.03, Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, Belfast, BT4 3SR
Tel: 028 9052 8472
Email: research@ofmdfmni.gov.uk

Department for Employment and Learning
Economic inactivity strategy

Opened 23 January

Economic inactivity refers to people who are neither in work nor unemployed. Northern Ireland has had persistently high levels of economic inactivity for over 30 years and this strategic framework suggests a systematic approach to tackle the problem.

Comments and responses should be submitted by 17 April to: Economic Inactivity Strategy Branch, Department for Employment and Learning, 5th Floor, Gloucester House, 57-63 Chichester Street, Belfast, BT1 4RA
Tel: 028 9025 2009
Email: economicinactivityconsultation@delni.gov.uk

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Energy licence modifications and appeals

Opened 24 January

The department is preparing detailed legislative proposals on the new arrangements for the electricity and gas licence modification and appeals process, to comply with the EU’s Third Energy Package.

Comments and responses should be submitted by 21 March to: Energy Division, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Room 44, Netherleigh House, Massey Avenue, Belfast, BT4 2JP
Tel: 028 9052 9900
Email: electricity@detini.gov.uk

Department of the Environment
Biodiversity strategy

Opened 18 December

This strategy will set out strategic targets (up to 2020) to help halt the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystems in Northern Ireland.

Comments and responses should be submitted by 28 February to: Environmental Policy Division, Department of the Environment, 8th Floor, Goodwood House, 44-58 May Street, Town Parks, Belfast, BT1 4NN
Tel: 028 9025 4728
Email: biodiversity.policy@doeni.gov.uk

Strategic planning policy statement

Opened 5 February

The draft policy document sets out the Department of the Environment’s regional planning policies for the orderly and consistent development of land under a reformed two-tier local planning system.

Comments and responses should be submitted by 29 April to: Strategic Planning Policy Statement Team, Department of the Environment, 6th Floor, 1-7 Bedford Street, Town Parks, Belfast, BT2 7EG
Tel: 028 9041 6932
Email: SPPSTeam@doeni.gov.uk

Department of Justice
Time limits in the youth court

Opened December

The department wants to introduce statutory time limits to the youth court in order to speed up processing times for criminal proceedings against young people.

Comments and responses should be submitted by 25 February to: Speeding Up Justice Branch, Access to Justice Directorate, Department of Justice, Room G57, Massey House, Stormont Estate, Belfast, BT4 3SX
Tel: 028 9016 9509
Email: SpeedingUpJustice@dojni.x.gsi.gov.uk

Human trafficking and slavery

Opened 21 January

The Department of Justice’s proposals follow on from the publication of the Home Secretary’s Modern Slavery Bill on

16 December 2013. The paper suggests the creation of new offences of human trafficking, slavery, servitude, and forced or compulsory labour.

Comments and responses should be submitted by 15 April to: Human Trafficking Team, Protection and Organised Crime Division, Department of Justice, Room B4.20, Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, Belfast, BT4 3SG
Tel: 028 9052 8677
Email: htconsultation@dojni.x.gsi.gov.uk

Department for Social Development
Anti-Social Behaviour Bill

Opened 2 December

Proposals include shorter tenancies for tenants involved in anti-social behaviour and the power to take them off the waiting list.

Comments and responses should be submitted by 24 February to: Dr Heloise Brown, Housing Division, Department for Social Development, The Lighthouse Building, 1 Cromac Place, Gasworks Business Park, Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 2JB
Tel: 028 9082 9108
Email: housing.bill@dsdni.gov.uk

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Review of children’s palliative and end-of-life care

Opened 6 January

The review has resulted in 18 recommendations with the aim of enhancing care and support to children and young people (aged from birth to 18 years) with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and their families.

Comments and responses should be submitted by 28 March to: Donna Magill, General Office, HSC Leadership Centre, 12 Hampton Manor Drive, Belfast, BT7 3EN
Tel: 028 9064 4811
Email: donna.magill@leadership.hscni.net

Domestic and sexual violence and abuse strategy

Opened 15 January

The consultation – jointly run by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and the Department of Justice – aims to improve services, protection and support for all victims and witnesses and to ensure perpetrators are called to account.

Comments and responses should be submitted by 11 April to: Integrated Projects Unit, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Room D2.17, Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, Belfast, BT4 3SQ
Tel: 028 9052 2512
Email: dsva@dhsspsni.gov.uk

Northern Ireland Office
Transparency of political donations and loans

Opened December

The NIO wants to allow the Electoral Commission to publish details of all donations in Northern Ireland since 2007 and loans since 2008, as long as this information does not identify the donor.

Comments and responses should be submitted by 28 April to: Constitutional Policy Team, Northern Ireland Office, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ
Tel: 020 2710 0840
Email: electionsunit@nio.x.gsi.gov.uk

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