Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)

A couple of weeks ago, I raised with the Taoiseach the need for the Government to ratify the Aarhus Convention. At the time he stated that he would direct the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to reply to me, but it does not appear to have done so. What is the up-to-date position in respect of the Aarhus Convention? When will the Government ratify it? Ireland is the only EU member state that has not ratified it as of January 2007. It would ensure the rights of the public to information, participation and access to justice in respect of environmental matters.

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