The Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) requires Parties to prevent, control and reduce transboundary impact, use transboundary waters in a reasonable and equitable way and ensure their sustainable management.
While Ireland intends to ratify the Convention, there is no agreed timetable to do so at this time.
Cooperation with authorities in Northern Ireland on water management issues is continuing within the structures of the EU Water Framework Directive under the auspices of the Belfast-Good Friday Agreement. These structures are facilitating ongoing transboundary water cooperation.
Ireland is committed to international cooperation on water and provides financial support to the UN GEMS programme (the UN Environment Programme’s Global Environmental Monitoring System for water).