2. These Regulations apply in relation to Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland inshore region, and any licensable marine activity carried on in Northern Ireland or the Northern Ireland inshore region, for which the Department of the Environment is—
(a)the appropriate licensing authority (and references in these Regulations to “the licensing authority” are to be read accordingly); or
(b)an appropriate enforcement authority (and references in these Regulations to the “enforcement authority” are to be read accordingly)(1).
Under sections 113(6)(a) and 114(2) of the Act the Secretary of State is, respectively, the licensing authority and the enforcement authority in respect of anything done in the course of carrying on any activity which relates to a matter which is an excepted matter, by virtue of paragraph 4 of Schedule 2 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c.47) (defence of the realm etc.) in Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland inshore region.