Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 150:

In page 66, line 31, to delete “Member State” and substitute “Transboundary State”.

The Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context, informally known as the transboundary convention or the Espoo Convention, sets out the obligations of states parties to assess the environmental impact of certain activities at an early stage of planning and also provides a general obligation on states to notify and consult each other on all major projects under consideration that are likely to have a significant adverse environmental impact across boundaries.

All EU member states are states parties to the transboundary convention. In the context of EIA requirements, the current Bill gives effect to transboundary consultation requirements with specific provision made in relation to works that may affect the environment in other EU member states. In order to strengthen the Espoo Convention, look towards ratifying its second protocol, and to bring additional states into scope that are not EU member states, such as the United Kingdom, the term “Member State” is being replaced with that of “Transboundary State”.