Vol. 434 No. 9
19 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for the Environment the measures, if any, he has agreed with other Ministers to promote the principle of integration of environmental considerations in the key areas identified in the EC's 5 Environmental Action Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
27 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for the Environment the measures he has taken to ensure that all major sectoral policies adhere to the principle of sustainable development; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
43 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for the Environment the measures, if any, he has taken to ensure that all major sectoral policies adhere to the principle of sustainable development; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
53 Mr. Cullen asked the Minister for the Environment the measures he has agreed with other members of the Government to promote the principle of integration of environmental considerations in the key areas identified in the EC Fifth Environmental Action Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
61 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for the Environment the measures he has agreed with other members of the Government to promote the principle of integration of environmental considerations in the key areas identified in the EC Fifth Environmental Action Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 27, 43, 53 and 61 together.
It has been the standing policy of Irish Governments since 1978 that, while the Minister for the Environment has the leading and co-ordinating role in matters relating to the environment, other Ministers of the Government remain directly responsible for ensuring that the environmental effects and implications of policies, programmes and projects proper to them are fully considered before decisions are taken. The importance of this principle of integration has been strongly reaffirmed in the EC Fifth Environmental Action Programme and in the Programme for a Partnership Government. As I previously stated, I was asked by the Taoiseach, following publication earlier this year of the report of the Green 2000 Advisory Committee, to agree an agenda with other Ministers to carry forward this process of environmental integration. I hope to report back to Government on this matter within a few months.
In the meantime, many practical measures or arrangements are continuing which support the greater integration of environmental considerations into other Departments and sectoral areas. Among these are the existence of a Government environmental action programme which extends to, and provides some co-ordination of, all public sector activities relevant to the environment, the second progress report on this action programme will be published shortly and will form the basis of our report on sustainable development to the UN Commission on Sustainable Development; the establishment of environment units within the organisation of a number of Government Departments and semi-State bodies; the creation of a new Environmental Protection Agency which will, inter alia, provide advice and support on environmental aspects to other public bodies; the establishment of an environmental policy research centre within the ESRI to examine economic aspects of environment policy; the operation of a number of interdepartmental committees on questions relevant to the environment; the extension of planning control to a wide range of development undertaken by State authorities, including the Office of Public Works and the provisions of the National Development Plan regarding environmental requirements which I have dealt with in replying to separate questions today.
The integration of environmental considerations into other policies and programmes, while essential, is internationally acknowledged to be a complex and multi-faceted task to which there are no easy solutions. I believe that efforts to promote integration must be on a continuing and broad basis, and this is the approach which I will seek to pursue.
The Minister's rather long winded response does not convince me that he is involved in any process with other Ministers to promote the principle of integration of environmental conditions. I previously put it to him that he should establish a task force to ensure integration between Departments on environmental matters. In the preparation of the National Development Plan — after today I do not know if it even stands — the Minister was asked by the Taoiseach to agree measures with other Ministers to advance his agenda. Is the Minister saying that he has agreed any measures with other Ministers in this area?
As I said many times, I have difficulty in communicating what I am doing to the Deputy.
It is not for the want of press releases.
First, an environmental unit has been established in the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, in the Department of Enterprise and Employment, in the Department of Tourism, Transport and Communications, in Bord na Móna and in Bord Fáilte. Therefore, the effect of the deliberations has meant that the primary work will be done by each Department and each sector. They will do the initial examination following which we operate on the basis of co-ordination.
To give an example, if one is reading the plan — and we are dealing with the plan in this context — the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry is continuing its farmyard pollution programme. Under the reform of CAP it also operates the agri-environment scheme. Other examples include the funds that are being put into the Dublin transport initiative, the consultative process, the investment in the railways and the investment in clean technologies for sustainable development in the industrial sector. Throughout the plan one can see the results of the process of better integration which is supported at primary level by the Departments and sectors——
I did not say anything about the Minister co-ordinating it.
——and then on an overall basis by the Minister for the Environment.
