Wilson bites back on green ad ban

Sammy Wilson blocked a government campaign on climate change

NI Environment Minister Sammy Wilson has defended his decision to stop ads urging people to cut energy consumption and reduce their carbon emissions.

Mr Wilson told the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change its campaign Act on CO2 "was not welcome".

On Tuesday, there was an Assembly motion to note its concern over Mr Wilson's position, proposed by Ulster Unionist David McClarty.

He said the minister's opposition to the ad was "ludicrous".

"Minister Wilson's opposition to the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change's advertising campaign is perhaps the most ludicrous and dangerous development in his radicalism to date," he said.

However, Mr Wilson suggested that other assembly members should look at their own contributions to climate change before lecturing him.

He cited the number and type of vehicles in the Stormont car park.

"I counted them this morning when I come in, and one of them is my own, there were 10 4X4s, 2.5 litre plus vehicles, out in that car park," he said.

"Most of the vehicles are over two litres, and probably belong to members who are sitting around these benches."