4.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), for the purposes of these Regulations, the Department of the Environment shall be the consultation body.
(2) Where the Department of the Environment is at any time the responsible authority as regards a plan or programme, it shall not at that time exercise the functions under these Regulations of the consultation body in relation to that plan or programme; and references to the consultation body in the following provisions of these Regulations shall be construed accordingly.