Vol. 415 No. 4
43 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Environment whether, in view of the UN Earth Summit Brazil in June 1992, with proposed participation by Heads of Government from all member states in the UN, it is intended to facilitate attendance by interested Irish groups and organisations; the plans he has to publicise the event in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Non-governmental organisations have an acknowledged role in the UNCED process, and a Global Forum of such organisations will operate in parallel with the Rio Summit. I will be pleased to consider a suitable proposal on behalf of interested Irish environmental organisations to facilitate Irish non-governmental representation at UNCED.
Ireland has strongly supported the preparations for UNCED, in particular by hosting a major UN Conference on Water and the Environment which was held in Dublin from 26 to 31 January. The Dublin Statement and Report which emerged from that conference are intended as a major input on freshwater issues to Agenda 21 of UNCED. Public awareness of UNCED in Ireland will be facilitated by this conference, by a number of non-governmental seminars which have taken place and by the publication shortly of the Irish Government's national report for UNCED.
