Vol. 415 No. 4
15 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for the Environment whether Ireland has produced the national report requested by the secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development; and, if so, if it has been submitted; if he will make this document available to Dáil Éireann; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will outline the basic information in this report and the scope of participation and consultation involved in producing this report.
The Irish national report for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development will be submitted shortly to the UNCED Secretariat. The report will be placed in the Oireachtas Library and will be made widely available. It will be designed to give a comprehensive account of the state of the Irish environment and the policies adopted in support of sustainable development. A wide range of Government and non-Government bodies have been consulted in the preparation of the report.
Would the Minister comment on the fact that this report should have been submitted by 31 July last year? However, the best that the Minister can do is to say that it will be submitted shortly. I am also disappointed that he has not listed the organisations who were asked to participate because there is a number of glaring omissions.
The organisations who were consulted include the following: An Taisce, Earthwatch, the Irish Peatlands Conservation Council, the Irish Wildlife Federation, the Irish Wildbird Conservancy, Greenpeace, Coastwatch, ECHO, the Irish Universities Environmental Research Group, the Royal Irish Academy, the Institute of Engineers of Ireland, the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland, the Confederation of Irish Industry, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the Federation of Irish Employers, the National Youth Council, the Association of Chambers of Commerce of Ireland, the Consumers Association of Ireland, Irish Organic Farmer-Growers Association, the International Federation of Environmental Health, the O'Reilly Institute in Dublin University, and the Advisory Council on Development Co-operation.
Now abolished.
The Minister has not answered the first part of my question which was if he would comment on the fact that the submission is now eight months late. Second, would he confirm, in spite of a recommendation to do so, that no women's groups, travellers' groups or poverty groups were asked to submit reports?
I have read out for the Deputy the list of groups which were consulted. The report is at an advanced stage of drafting and I hope to be in a position soon to circulate it.
Is it intended to have the report debated in the Dáil before it is submitted?
It is not for me to decide whether the report will be debated in the House. All I am saying is that the report will be available and will be widely circulated.
In view of the lack of democratic participation from this House — and the other House — in the formulation of policy in the crucial issue of the environment, has the Minister given any consideration to the establishment of an Oireachtas environment committee? Will he bring such a suggestion to Cabinet?
That is a separate question.
It would be very appropriate to have a debate in this House in advance of the world conference in Rio de Janeiro. Will the Minister indicate whether he is agreeable in principle to such a debate?
The Deputy should put down a question in regard to that matter.
It arises from the original question.
A final question from Deputy Carey.
You will recall, a Cheann Comhairle, that I asked the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to bring to the attention of the Minister for the Environment that parliamentarians from other countries were represented at environment conferences. Will the Minister undertake to have an all-party delegation attend this conference when the document is being presented in Rio de Janeiro?
I am aware of the Deputy's interest in the matter but it seems to be a separate question.
Will the Minister reply?
