Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 May 1996

Vol. 465 No. 3

Written Answers. - OSPAR Convention Obligation.

Eoin Ryan

Question:

249 Mr. E. Ryan asked the Minister for the Marine the progress, if any, made in respect of Ireland's obligation under the OSPAR convention to prepare a quality status report for the Irish Sea, the Celtic Sea and Atlantic ports in the west of Ireland and Scotland; whether this study will be completed by the year 2000; the terms of reference of the study group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9563/96]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Barrett)

Preparations are under way for the completion of an environmental quality status report (QSR) for the entire area covered by the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR) to which Ireland is a party. For the purpose of the report the convention area has been divided into five sub-regions. Ireland and the UK are responsible for the preparation of the report in respect of Region III which includes the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, the area to the west of Ireland and the area to the west of Scotland.

Overall responsibility for the preparation of the report in respect of Region III including the synthesis of Irish and UK contributions, has been assigned to a joint Irish/UK Regional Task Team (RTT) that will meet periodically to review progress. Ireland is represented on this team by officials from the Departments of the Marine and Environment and the Marine Institute.

The Irish contribution to the QSR is being co-ordinated by the Marine Institute on behalf of the Departments of the Environment and the Marine. For this purpose, arrangements are in place to establish a national QSR Office, consisting of a core group of scientists. The national team will commence operation in July. Work is on target to have the report in respect of Region III completed in time for the year 2,000 deadline.

Terms of Reference

The QSR will consist of: a compilation of existing knowledge of the area; an evaluation of this information in relation to agreed criteria of environmental quality and a statement of the prevailing condition of the area.

The report will cover all relevant fields of natural science (e.g. geography, human activities, physical hydrography, climatology, marine chemistry and marine biology) on coastal zones, near-shore and off-shore areas.

The structure, scope and content of the QSR will be largely in accordance with the United Nations Guidelines for the Marine Environment Assessments taking into account the OSPAR Joint Monitoring and Assessment Programme and related guidance from appropriate OSPAR working groups.