John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 19, 22, 29, 38 and 59 together.

Ireland's Environment 2008, which is the Environmental Protection Agency's fourth state of the environment report, was launched by me on 8 October 2008. It concludes that the quality of Ireland's environment is relatively good overall, although it is subject to increasing pressures as a result of the rapid expansion of our economy. The report identified the following four key challenges for Ireland in the coming years: limiting and adapting to climate change; reversing environmental degradation; mainstreaming environmental considerations; and complying with environmental legislation and agreements. The challenges are significant and we must do more to deal with them.

Climate change is widely acknowledged as the most threatening global environmental challenge facing humanity. I have detailed the Government's response to this challenge in my reply to Question No. 1 on today's Order Paper.

While Ireland's water quality remains of a high standard, maintaining this standard is one of the most serious environmental challenges we face. Implementation of the water framework directive, the nitrates action programme and the Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations 2007 are key to securing and maintaining good water quality. The highest ever level of annual funding, €560 million, is being made available for water services investment in 2009. This is the clearest possible statement by the Government of the priority we are according to preserving and protecting our water resources as a key aspect of environmental quality.

The EPA report refers extensively to the report, The Status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland, which I published in May 2008. We are actively taking steps to maintain and restore habitats, particularly in protected areas. This requires effective prioritisation, planning and execution, as well the full involvement of Departments, local authorities, landowners, farmers and other stakeholders.

The EPA estimates the number of contaminated sites in Ireland at between 1,980 and 2,300. Two national initiatives are under way on establishing inventories of historic mines and unregulated waste disposal sites. I intend to introduce regulations to provide a legal framework for remediation of high risk waste disposal sites.

Key drivers for environmental protection are EU environmental legislation and multilateral environmental agreements. Some 200 items of EU environmental legislation, including more than 140 directives, have now been transposed into Irish law and are being implemented. Ireland has also ratified a range of multilateral environmental agreements. Compliance with environmental legislation is vital at national level and critical in terms of our commitment to working with the EU.

The report recognises that air quality in Ireland is generally of a high standard. The national programme on transboundary pollutants provides for the progressive reduction of these emissions by 2010 through a range of policies and measures in different sectors.

One of my main priorities is to improve dramatically the manner in which we manage our waste. The international review of waste management policy, which I have recently commissioned, will cover a wide range of issues to help identify how best to proceed with further efforts to reduce waste levels, improve recycling rates and deliver equitable and cost-effective waste management solutions.

The programme for Government accords a high priority to environmental sustainability and the integration of environmental concerns into broader policy formulation.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

Since coming into office, I have increased significantly the resources available to Comhar to undertake policy analysis across the broad range of issues in sustainable development, and the representation of environmental issues in social partnership will be addressed in the review of Towards 2016.

Overall, it is a firm objective of Government to work towards a clean and safe environment for all. The EPA report makes a major contribution to awareness and debate on the environment and sustainable development in Ireland. It will inform and guide policy making and individual action in these areas over the years ahead.

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