Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consultation was undertaken with the Northern Ireland Executive and Northern Ireland-based maritime operators about the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026 before its implementation.

This policy has been developed jointly by the UK ETS Authority, which includes the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). As with all Authority decisions, DAERA have an equal say on policy positions.

The Authority has conducted extensive consultation with stakeholders over the period between the first consultation in March 2022 and the response to the second consultation in November 2025.

Detailed consideration has been given to Northern Ireland’s specific circumstances, including the convening of several in-person and online engagement sessions with Northern Irish stakeholders, including Stena Line, Warrenpoint Port and B9 Energy Storage Ltd.