Paul Nicholas Gogarty
Question:78 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Health and Children if his Department has considered the health implications of global warming here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22579/03]
Written Answers. - National Health Strategy.
The national health strategy, Quality and Fairness: A Health System for You, provides for the preparation of a national environmental health action plan. A draft action plan entitled A Shared Vision for Quality of Life is being prepared by my Department and this will address a wide range of environmental health issues, including climate change.
The Deputy may wish to note that the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Environmental Protection Agency have responsibility in the area of climate change. In November 2000 the then Minister for the Environment and Local Government launched the national climate change strategy, Ireland and in July 2003 my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government launched an EPA report entitled Climate Change – Scenarios and Impacts for Ireland.