Public Affairs

Consultation update

Stormont columns4 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 Finance and Personnel

There are no current consultations

Department of Education

There are no current consultations

Department for Regional Development

There are no current consultations

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

There are no current consultations

Department for Social Development

There are no current consultations

Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister

Active ageing strategy

Opened 20 February

This strategy is due to run from 2014 to 2020, during which time the number of people aged 65 and over will increase from 286,000 to 320,000. The document will consider how to encourage people to make good choices that keep people healthy and active later in life.

Comments and responses should be submitted by 23 May to: Active Ageing Policy Team, OFMDFM, FREEPOST – NAT17679, Room E3.18, Castle Buildings, Stormont, Belfast, BT4 3SR

Tel: 028 9052 3433

Email: age@ofmdfmni.gov.uk

Developing a sexual orientation strategy

Opened 13 March

The strategy will focus on issues that directly and adversely affect the life chances of lesbian, gay and bisexual people in their everyday life. This consultation will collect views which will then be used to draft a strategy and an associated action plan.

Comments and responses should be submitted by 6 June to: Gender Equality and Sexual Orientation Unit, Equality Directorate, OFMDFM, Room E3.15, Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, Belfast, BT4 3SQ

Tel: 028 9052 2527

Email: geso@ofmdfmni.gov.uk

Department of the Environment

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

Significant water management issues

Opened 18 December

A series of consultations sets out the official assessment of pressures and impacts on the water environment, describes progress towards the 2015 Water Framework Directive’s objectives, and identifies significant water management issues in the Neagh-Bann, North Eastern and North Western river basin districts.

Comments and responses should be submitted by 22 June to: Water Management Unit, Northern Ireland Environment Agency, 17 Antrim Road, Tonagh, Lisburn, BT28 3AL

Tel: 028 9262 3100

Email: riverbasinplanning@doeni.gov.uk

Department of Justice

Vehicle immobilisation on private land

Opened 17 February

Northern Ireland is the part of the UK where it is legal to clamp the wheels of a vehicle on private land, including car parks. The Minister wants to establish whether there are any problems with the current arrangements for regulation and, if so, how they can be improved.

Comments and responses should be submitted by 16 May to: Operations Branch, Department of Justice, Room B4.16, Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, Belfast, BT4 3SG

Tel: 028 9076 5704

Email: PSI@dojni.x.gsi.gov.uk

Fine collection and enforcement

Opened 14 March

The proposed legislation will replace police-led enforcement with a collection and enforcement service with powers under court authority to collect and manage the payment of fines. The consultation looks at how to deter an active refusal to pay fines.

Comments and responses should be submitted by 6 June to: Criminal Law Branch, Criminal Justice Policy and Legislation Division, Department of Justice, Massey House, Stormont Estate, Belfast, BT4 3SX

Tel: 028 9016 9604

Email: access.public@dojni.x.gsi.gov.uk

Northern Ireland Office

Transparency of political donations and loans

Opened 30 January

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

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 Health, Social Services and Public Safety

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

European Commission

Retail energy market

Opened 22 January

The Commission recognises that consumers are dissatisfied with their energy costs and choices. The aims of this consultation is to seek views from members of the public and energy interest groups on how the retail energy market functions and the scope for consumer participation

Comments and responses should be submitted by 17 April to: DG Energy, ENER.B.2, Internal Market III, European Commission, Rue De Mot 24-26, B-1049 Bruxelles, Belgium

Tel: 00 32 22 991 111

Email: ENER-B3-RETAIL-MARKET@ec.europa.eu

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