The meeting has been convened for the purpose of consideration of the following motion referred to the select committee by order of the Dáil on 1 July 2010.
I welcome the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley, and his officials, Mr Gary McGuinn and Ms Nuala Bannon, to assist us in our consideration of the motion. I thank the Department for providing information to us in advance of the meeting. I call on the Minister to proceed.
I thank the Chairman and members for the invitation to discuss the ratification of the Stockholm convention. It is a global treaty administered by the United Nations Environment Programme designed to protect human health and the environment from certain chemicals known as POPs or persistent organic pollutants.
Exposure to POPs, which are chemical substances that persist in the environment, can lead to serious health effects, including certain cancers and damage to the nervous and immune systems. POPs can be transported across international boundaries far from their sources, even to regions where they have never been either used or produced. Given their long range transport capability, no government acting in isolation can fully protect its citizens or environment from POPs.
In response to this global problem the Stockholm convention, which was adopted in 2001 and entered into force in 2004, requires parties to take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment. The convention initially targeted 12 POPs that were recognised as having adverse health effects on humans and the ecosystem. There are currently 170 parties to the convention. The European Union ratified the convention in 2004 and introduced legislation binding in all member states to ensure coherent and effective implementation of the EU's obligations.
The Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulations 2010, SI No. 235 of 2010, that I signed into law on 31 May, completed the legislative framework necessary to enable Ireland to meet its obligations under the Stockholm convention. The main provision of this legislation was to formally designate the Environmental Protection Agency as the competent authority.
There are no significant additional implications for Irish industry arising from ratification of the convention as most of the chemicals that fall within its scope are no longer in use in the EU. Many of Ireland's obligations under the convention are already being implemented under EU law as well as through existing environmental regulatory systems such as IPPC and waste licensing and other EU chemical and pesticide regulations.
As a developed country, as a member state of the EU and as a responsible nation in the wider international community, Ireland must play its part in addressing significant environmental issues. The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is the key global instrument addressing transboundary environmental pollution by persistent organic pollutant chemicals and its ratification will ensure Ireland fulfils its international obligations in this regard.
Ratification of the Stockholm convention will also support the aims expressed in the programme for Government to enhance Ireland's environmental performance and to implement the EU's regulatory framework governing chemicals.
I thank the Minister. Does Deputy Tuffy have any comments? Is she satisfied with the proposal?
I am satisfied.
Do other members have questions? No. On the basis that there is general satisfaction we shall conclude our consideration of the proposal on the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and we trust the Minister that everything is in order. I thank him and officials for attending and assisting with our consideration of the proposal. Is the motion agreed? Agreed. I thank the Minister and his officials.
