Vol. 406 No. 2
30 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline Government policy on balancing the needs of environmental protection and public safety, and perceived job creation benefit; and if his Department have principal responsibility for assessing the balance.
The Government's environment action programme is based on the principles of substainable development precautionary action and integration of environmental considerations in all policy areas. These principles fall to be implemented through a range of policies, programmes and legislative measures and are strongly reflected in particular in the Environmental Protection Agency Bill, 1990.
While the Department of the Environment have general responsibility for the protection and improvement of the physical environment, all Departments are responsible for ensuring that the effects and implications of their policies, programmes and projects and those of associated bodies, are fully considered from the viewpoint of the environment.
