Vol. 495 No. 1
278 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the report issued by the World Wildlife Fund on 1 October 1998 which confirms that one third of the world's natural resources were consumed in the period 1970 to 1995; and the policy developments, if any; he has in mind to avert, in the Irish context, the imminent catastrophe that must inevitably eventuate from this level of natural resource depletion. [19115/98]
My Department has not, as yet, received the report referred to and cannot therefore comment on its details. However, up-to-date data and analysis are contained in World Resources, 1998-99 published jointly this year by the World Resources Institute, UNEP, UNDP and the World Bank. Ireland participates actively, through the EU and UN, in international co-operation for the environment, and at national level in pursuing sustainable development policies which are consistent with international environmental objectives.
