Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 December 2004
18 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the Friends of the Earth’s recent report entitled, The Dirty Dozen — Ireland’s Grim Environmental Record; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32750/04]
View answerI assume the question refers to the report entitled "Ireland's Environment — Common Sense not Catastrophe", which has been published by Friends of the Earth Ireland. This report followed and drew from the statutory EPA state of the environment report, Ireland's Environment 2004, published last April.
The EPA report concluded that "although under increasing pressure, Ireland's environment remains of generally good quality and represents one of our most essential assets." Nonetheless, it emphasises that international commitments on air emissions, eutrophication prevention and control and waste management present Ireland with important environmental challenges and priorities for action. Broadly similar concerns are expressed in the report by Friends of the Earth Ireland.
With regard to air emissions, work is continuing on our international commitments. EPA outlined among the positive signals for the environment a recent reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases. These were down from 31% above 1990 levels in 2001 to 29% in 2002, the first reduction in a decade. Preliminary figures for 2003 show a further reduction to 24.7% above 1990 levels. These figures indicate that significant progress is being made towards achieving our target of limiting greenhouse gas emissions to 13% above 1990 levels during the Kyoto Protocol commitment period 2008-2012.
Eutrophication is the single most important problem affecting surface waters in Ireland. However, water quality in Ireland is generally satisfactory. The EPA report, Water Quality in Ireland, which applies to the period 1998 to 2000, indicates, for the first time since national surveys commenced in 1971, a reversal in the downward trend in water quality, with a reported increase in the length of unpolluted river channel from 67% in the 1995 to 1997 period to 70% in 1998-2000. In addition, lake surface area classified as unpolluted has increased from 65% to 93% over the same periods.
As part of the implementation of the water framework directive, 2000/60/EC, my Department is promoting, and funding at a rate of100%, the establishment by local authorities of inter-authority river basin management projects to develop river basin monitoring and management systems and to provide the bulk of the baseline data required to implement the directive and to develop river basin management plans. These projects will identify all significant impacts on water quality and quantity, set quality objectives and identify and put in place the necessary monitoring and management measures to achieve those objectives.
We have also seen significant progress in the modernisation of waste management practices and infrastructure. In particular, rapid strides have been made in recycling, with targets for recycling of packaging, construction and demolition waste being exceeded. Government policy on waste management is set out in the policy documents Changing our Ways — 1998; Preventing and Recycling Waste: Delivering Change — 2002; and Taking Stock and Moving Forward — 2004.
The Government's approach is based on the internationally recognised waste management hierarchy of prevention/minimisation, significantly increased levels of recycling, energy recovery and, finally, utilising landfill as the last resort for residual waste that cannot otherwise be recovered. Local authorities have adopted waste management plans which, informed by the performance targets set out in these policy statements, call for the provision of modern integrated waste management services and infrastructure. The implementation of these plans is a matter for the relevant local authorities.
While this progress is encouraging, we must continue to work towards improvements in the areas of concern specified in both the EPA report and the publication by Friends of the Earth Ireland. Significant challenges remain and these will continue to be addressed in the future.
