Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 4

Written Answers. - EU Directives.

Bernard Allen

Question:

444 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has met and consulted BirdWatch Ireland regarding the EU water framework directive; and his views on active public participation in the decision making process on issues related to it. [4593/03]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Cullen):

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 417 on 10 December 2002.

I have not met BirdWatch Ireland regarding this issue. However, my Department is encouraging and facilitating the active involvement of all interested parties in the implementation of the directive, including public authorities, agricultural, commercial, industrial, recreational and community interests, environmental organisations and interested persons. A broad range of activities is required for this purpose and numerous actions are being pursued by my Department and other agencies at national, regional and local levels.

At national level information and consultation seminars on the WFD organised jointly by my Department and the Institute of Public Administration were held in Kilkenny on 8 November 2001 and Tullamore on 4 December 2001. The seminars informed delegates of the arrangements being developed for implementation of the WFD. They provided an opportunity for commenting on those arrangements and water management generally. The Kilkenny seminar mainly served public authorities such as local and regional authorities. The Tullamore seminar was aimed at a broader stakeholder audience and included participation by BirdWatch Ireland. A public information website is being developed by my Department, linked to my Department's website, to facilitate public access to information on the implementation of the directive, and will be launched shortly. My Department is funding an initiative by VOICE, which stands for Voice of Irish Concern for the Environment, to assist environmental organisations to work together towards development of a common policy position on the directive. BirdWatch Ireland is participating in this initiative.

At regional level my Department is promoting and funding the establishment by local authorities of inter authority projects to develop river basin monitoring and management systems and to provide the bulk of the baseline data required for implementation of the directive and for development of river basin management plans. Central to these projects is a requirement for the development and implementation of a full programme of activity for public information and consultation. Two projects have already been established in relation to the south eastern region and the Shannon river basin. A regional seminar on public participation was held on 5 November 2002 in Kilkenny and marked the start of a process to facilitate and support stakeholder involvement in the implementation of the south eastern river basin management project. BirdWatch Ireland participated in this seminar.

In addition to specific measures being taken in the context of the WFD, the effective participation of interested parties will be facilitated by the range of structures put in place, with necessary support, under the local government reform programme. This scheme has facilitated a greater input by community and local sectoral interests, including the social partners, into public service policy development at local level.