The national framework for sustainable development for Ireland, Our Sustainable Future, identifies a set of principles for sustainable development, adapted from sustainability principles already developed by the United Nations and the European Commission. In summary, the framework document promotes an approach to sustainability which respects the social, cultural, economic and environmental needs of the present and future citizens of a community in all its diversity; the document is available to view and download on my Department’s website (www.environ.ie).
Our Sustainable Future identifies some 70 measures to be implemented over the short, medium and long term. Within a year of publication of the framework, 17 of the 70 identified measures were completed or part-completed and other measures were advancing at a satisfactory pace. Local Agenda 21, as described in the framework, supports the integration of sustainable development principles at community level. My Department’s Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund gives life to these principles by assisting small-scale, non-profit, environmentally beneficial projects at a local level. Details of specific activities supported by the Fund are included in the reply to Question No. 406 of 17 December 2013.
Because it was recognised that effective implementation of the framework would be a key challenge, the Government agreed that the framework should be monitored at the most senior level. I chair the High-Level Inter-Departmental Group on Sustainability that co-ordinates implementation of measures by Departments, while ultimate oversight is delivered through the Cabinet Committee on Climate Change and the Green Economy, chaired by An Taoiseach. A second meeting of the High-Level Inter-Departmental Group for Sustainable Development is being held in February 2014, focussing on monitoring progress made, obstacles encountered and opportunities for further impact. Following this meeting, the Group will submit a progress report to the Cabinet Committee on Climate Change and the Green Economy.
As regards the need for legislation, the framework already incorporates a number of legislative measures and I look forward to receiving a progress report on these from the relevant Departments at our February meeting.
