Phil Hogan
Question:348 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the decisions which were made at the International Conference on Water and the Environment which was held in Dublin from 26 to 31 January 1992.
Vol. 415 No. 8
348 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the decisions which were made at the International Conference on Water and the Environment which was held in Dublin from 26 to 31 January 1992.
The International Conference on Water and the Environment adopted a comprehensive statement on freshwater entitled, The Dublin Statement on Water and Sustainable Development. A copy of the statement is available in the Oireachtas Library.
The Conference report, which will be available very shortly, sets out recommendations for action at local, national and international levels, based on four guiding principles set out in the Dublin statement:
Principle No. 1— Fresh water is a finite and vulnerable resource, essential to sustain life, development and the environment.
Principle No. 2— Water development and management should be based on a participatory approach, involving users, planners and policy-makers at all levels.
Principle No. 3— Women play a central part in the provision, management and safeguarding of water.
Principle No. 4— Water has an economic value in all its competing uses and should be recognised as an economic good.