asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has any proposals to contribute to an international fund for the protection of the environment praticularly in undeveloped countries.
11.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Environment Protection.
8.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if any progress has been made on the fund proposed at the UN conference on the environment in Stockholm.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 11 together.
A resolution which provided inter alia for the establishment of an environment fund, to be financed from voluntary contributions, was recommended unanimously by the Stockholm Conference in June, 1972. At the 27th session of the United Nations General Assembly in autumn, 1972 the same resolution was adopted without opposition.
Ireland's Permanent Representative to the United Nations has indicated that Ireland will contribute to the fund. A decision has yet to be made as to the amount of such contribution.
A separate fund for assistance to developing countries was not proposed. However, the resolution referred to also provides for the provision of financial assistance on special terms from the fund to developing countries.
9.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if facilities will be made available to Members of the Oireachtas to keep them informed on environmental progress in the UN.
10.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide documentation in the Oireachtas Library which will enable members to inform themselves in depth of the recommendations of the recent UN conference on human environment and similar documentation after the next conference.
With your permission, a Cheann Chomhairle, I propose to take questions Nos. 9 and 10 together.
The United Nations supplies copies of all printed UN documents and publications to the Oireachtas Library as a depository library. The report on the Stockholm Conference has not yet appeared in published form. In the circumstances I am taking steps to have neostyled copies of the report placed in the Library as quickly as possible.
With regard to the second question the arrangements already referred to should normally be adequate to enable members of the Oireachtas to keep abreast of developments in the UN. However, my Department will be happy to make available to the Librarian, on request, copies of individual documents or publications in neostyled form.