Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 10: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the provision of greater access to environmental information and on the importance of public participation in the planning process; the work that has occurred to date in respect of the ratification of the Aarhus agreement and the transposition of the two EU Directives associated with the agreement; and when the ratification of the agreement will be complete. [16480/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland signed the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters on 25 June 1998. Progress towards ratification of the Convention is closely aligned with work at EU level. To date, the European Union has adopted two directives as part of the ratification process for the Convention. These deal with public access to environmental information (2003/4/EC) and public participation in certain environmental decision-making procedures (2003/35/EC). Ratification of the Convention will take place after these Directives have been transposed into Irish Law.

Work is continuing in my Department with regard to the transposition of these two Directives and will be completed as soon as possible. The Strategic Infrastructure Bill which is currently before the Seanad also provides additional rights to Environmental NGO's in accordance with the Aarhus Convention and this is part of the overall package of measures being taken to implement the Convention and EU Directive in Ireland.

In addition, I have invited the Information Commissioner to accept the role as Appeal Commissioner under the Access to Environmental Information regime and I am happy to report that the Commissioner has agreed to take on this role. When the above work on transposition is completed, the instrument of ratification of the Aarhus Convention will be submitted to the Dáil in accordance with the requirements of the Constitution.

In the meantime, the 1998 Regulations on Access to Information on the Environment, allied to the Freedom of Information code, continue to provide for wide access to environmental information, while our planning system provides for comprehensive public consultation and participation.