Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 464: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when Ireland signed the Aarhus Convention and when it is intended that Ireland will ratify that convention, and if in the meantime an Aarhus certificate can be applied for to cover a suitable subject for such a certificate in Ireland in view of the fact that the convention has been signed but not ratified to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36348/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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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. Ratification of the Convention is a matter of the highest priority and my Department is working closely with the Office of the Attorney General in order to finalise this process. Ireland is largely compliant with the provisions of the Convention, although there are some outstanding issues to resolve in the context of the access to justice pillar. When this work has been completed I, along with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, will ensure that the ratification process is advanced as a matter of urgency.

There is no provision in Irish law for the use of 'Aarhus Certificates'. However, I would draw the Deputy's attention to the new costs rule set out in Section 33 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010.