Environment 'on back burner'

By Mike McKimm BBC Northern Ireland environment correspondent

We still are not recycling enough waste, many of our rivers are still polluted with sewage and effluent and up to a third of all waste water treatment plants do not meet the required standards.

The majority of beaches do not get a Blue Flag award and 'protected' habitats are anything but protected.

Everyone will have to pay for their water by 2006

That could well sum up the profit and loss account for the environment in Northern Ireland for 2003 - if it had been a business.

In effect, there was little profit. There were some glowing moments when listed buildings were protected from their owners or developers by ministerial action.

But it was also revealed (by the BBC) that dozens, perhaps hundreds of listed buildings could be at risk because of legal oversights by the DoE. That cancelled out any profits.

With just a year to go, Northern Ireland is struggling to meet its EU recycling targets.

We have not met 10% yet and the target for the end of next year is a seemingly unobtainable 25%.

There has been an outbreak of blue bins to collect wastepaper - more as a token than a reality.

Environmental watchdog

Many councils do not collect plastic bottles, cardboard or mixed plastics, such as polythene sheets. And plastic carrier bags are still a nightmare.

With our 'success' at the above, how will we cope with the forthcoming EU legislation on electrical equipment, collecting batteries and recycling cars?

It is not a good omen for 2004. Nor is the fact that Northern Ireland has managed to duck and dodge the appointment of an independent environmental watchdog.

The new year is likely to bring more of the same because most politicians in Northern Ireland have their eye on a very different ball

So it is left to government departments to police government departs with the inevitable results. Sadly, there is little chance of that changing in 2004.

In the past year, it was announced that we are to get water charges so everyone will have to pay for their water by 2006.

But that is about as close as we have got to embracing the EU Water Framework Directive.

Low level pollution of water systems is still rife and breaches by government departments are at a criminal level - or would be if the UK law applied in Northern Ireland, but Crown Immunity prevents prosecution.

'Watch on'

The new year is likely to bring more of the same because most politicians in Northern Ireland have their eye on a very different ball.

Their recent electoral manifestos proved that. The environment is a very minor issue - even with the threats of EU fines.

The much-promised National Park for the Mournes would produce jobs and tourist income like never before, while, at the same time protecting an environment under severe pressure

So it is left to a few of the major NGOs to do battle with the direct rule ministers while the rest watch on.

Northern Ireland has few environmental lobby groups, especially for consumers and travellers.

It may all seem bleak and in some areas it is. Sadly, while the environment is bottom of the pecking order, its profit and loss accounts are likely to be mainly loss.

Yet it would not take much to dramatically transform the balance sheet.

The much-promised National Park for the Mournes would produce jobs and tourist income like never before, while, at the same time protecting an environment under severe pressure.

But it will not happen in 2004. And in anybody's books - that is a loss.