Written answers

Tuesday, 27 March 2007

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Environmental Policy

11:00 am

Photo of Trevor SargentTrevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 612: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the person he will be sending to represent Ireland at the seventh meeting of the parties to the Aarhus Convention in Geneva in May 2007, to which Ireland has signed up but not ratified; and the instructions he will give to the representative. [11658/07]

Photo of Dick RocheDick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I intend that Ireland will be represented at the Seventh Meeting of the Parties to the UNECE Aarhus Convention next May by an appropriate official of my Department. Ireland's representative will monitor the business of the meeting, and will engage in the discussions on the different agenda items as appropriate.

Photo of Trevor SargentTrevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 613: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason Ireland has not alone failed, refused and neglected to ratify the Aarhus Convention in domestic law but has, in addition failed to implement the terms of the European Directive which seeks to impose the terms of the convention on countries of the EU and grant the benefit of the directive to those citizens and bodies of the general populace of the EU who might seek to invoke the terms of the convention against their native Governments, State bodies, provincial and regional bodies and companies across the territory of the EU. [11659/07]

Photo of Dick RocheDick 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).

I intend to make regulations transposing Directive 2003/4/EC into Irish law in the near future. Irish legislation is now largely compliant with Directive 2003/35/EC, and the remaining work required will be completed by the earliest possible date. When the above work has been finalised, the instrument of ratification of the Aarhus Convention will be laid before the Dáil in accordance with the requirements of the Constitution.

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