Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 283: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will report on progress on, or plans to implement, the recommendations of the United Nations environment programme country profile on Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16632/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The UN environment programme country profiles provide a brief overview of a country's environment and international environmental activities. While the profile for Ireland does not make recommendations, it outlines the scope for using economic instruments as part of an approach to addressing the key environmental challenges facing this country. I accept that fiscal instruments can play a useful role as part of overall Government policy to protect and enhance the environment. The instruments in question are mentioned as potential economic instruments in Ireland's Environment — A Millennium Report, published by the EPA. The merits of such instruments are evaluated on a case by case basis.

Landfill charges and the plastic bags levy are examples of economic instruments which promote good environmental behaviour and provide resources through the environment fund for a range of environmental programmes. The structure of charges for domestic waste disposal, by local authorities or private collectors, has been modified to relate directly to usage, with a view to providing incentives towards more sustainable waste management. The potential further use of economic instruments is kept under ongoing review.