Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 3

Written Answers. - Environmental Policy.

Deirdre Clune

Question:

18 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will make a statement on the forthcoming ministerial conference in Aarhus outlining his preparation for the conference; and the actions, if any, that will be taken at the conference. [13868/98]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

The fourth ministerial conference in the Environment for Europe process will take place in Aarhus from 23-25 June. The Environment for Europe process was initiated in 1991 to foster co-operation on environmental protection matters among all European countries and, in particular, to promote the strengthening of environmental policy in central and eastern Europe.

The main items on the agenda for the con-ference will be: environmental problems in countries in transition, in particular in newly independent states, NIS, including the financing of environmental investments; the second Assessment of the European Environment Agency on the State of the European environment; adoption and signature of a convention on Access to Information and Public Participation in Environmental Decision-Making; adoption and signature of protocols on control of emissions of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants; implementation of a Pan-European Biodiversity and Landscape Strategy; European Energy Conservation Initiative and programme for the phase out of leaded petrol.

Subject to Government approval, I intend to sign three legal instruments at the conference: the Convention on Access to Environmental Information and Public Participation in Environmental decision making and two protocols to the Geneva Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution — the protocol on Heavy Metals — and the protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants.