Schedule 3: The Office for Environmental Protection: Northern Ireland Part 1: The OEP’s Northern Ireland functions Meaning of relevant environmental law, relevant public authority etc
Paragraph 5 defines certain terms referred to in this Part of this Schedule.
	Sub-paragraph (2) defines the term "relevant environmental law". This definition is in two parts:
Sub-paragraph (2)(a) sets out that for Northern Ireland public authorities (defined in sub-paragraph (4)), "relevant environmental law" means "UK environmental law", as defined in paragraph 19(1) – which references section 46 – or "Northern Ireland environmental law", as defined in paragraph 19(2).
Sub-paragraph (2)(b) sets out that for any other relevant public authority (meaning those captured under sub-paragraph (3)(b)), "relevant environment law" means "Northern Ireland environmental law".
	The definition is structured in this manner to enable the OEP to carry out enforcement action against Northern Ireland devolved public authorities who are believed to have breached either devolved or reserved environmental legislation, as well as against other public authorities who are believed to have breached devolved legislation when exercising any function in or as regards to Northern Ireland.
	Sub-paragraph (3) defines the term "relevant public authority". This means a Northern Ireland public authority (as defined in sub-paragraph (4)), or any other legal or natural person carrying out a function of a public nature in or as regards Northern Ireland that is not a parliamentary function, or a function of a body listed under sub-paragraphs (3)(b)(i) to (3)(b)(iv).
	Sub-paragraph (4) defines the term ‟Northern Ireland public authority". This means a legal or natural person carrying out a Northern Ireland devolved function (as defined in sub-paragraph (5)) that is not a function connected with proceedings in the Northern Ireland Assembly, or a function of any of the bodies listed under sub-paragraphs (4)(b)(i) to (4)(b)(iii).
	Sub-paragraph (4) makes it clear that the definition of Northern Ireland public authority includes the implementation bodies as defined in section 55 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 but only insofar as their functions relate to Northern Ireland.
	Sub-paragraph (5) defines the term ‟Northern Ireland devolved function". This means a function that could be conferred by an Act made by the Northern Ireland Assembly under sections 6 to 8 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.