Environment Committee to consider European Environmental Action Plan

Cathaoirleach of the Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht Michael McCarthy TD said: “Environment Action Programmes have guided the development of EU environment policy since the early 1970s. The most recent programme, the 6th, expired in July 2012 and the European Commission is proposing a successor programme.

According to the Commission, there are four reasons for a successor programme. First, despite progress in some areas, major environmental challenges remain, as well as opportunities to make the environment more resilient to systemic risks and change. Second, the EU has adopted the Europe 2020 Strategy for Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth, which guides policy development for the period up to 2020. Third, while many Member States are struggling to cope with the economic crisis, the need for structural reforms offers new opportunities for the EU to move towards an inclusive green economy. Finally, Rio+20 highlighted the importance of the global dimension.

The latest programme aims to step up the contribution of environment policy to the transition towards a resource-efficient, low-carbon economy. It provides a framework for environment policy to 2020, identifying nine priority objectives for the EU and its Member States to attain.

This is an opportunity for Committee Members to examine the programme and how it addresses the environmental challenges the EU is facing and how the programme can be integrated with other policies to achieve sustainable development.”

This meeting will start in Committee Room 4, Leinster House at 2.15pm tomorrow, Tuesday 30th April 2013.

Committee proceedings can be followed live at:
http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/watchlisten/

Media enquiries to:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Email: Ciaran.brennan@oireachtas.ie

Membership of the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht

Deputies: James Bannon TD (Fine Gael); Paudie Coffey TD (Fine Gael); Noel Coonan (Fine Gael) Leas-Chathaoirleach; Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD (Fine Gael); Barry Cowen (Fianna Fáil); Luke Flanagan TD (Independent); Kevin Humphreys TD (Labour); Michael McCarthy TD (Labour) Cathaoirleach; Sandra McLellan TD (Sinn Féin); Tony Mc Loughlin TD (Fine Gael); Michelle Mulherin TD (Fine Gael); Catherine Murphy TD (Independent); Gerald Nash TD (Labour); Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD;  Brian Stanley TD (Sinn Féin).

Senators: Senator Cáit Keane (Fine Gael) Senator Denis Landy (Labour); An Seanadóir Fiach Mac Conghail (Neamhspleách); Senator Catherine Noone (Fine Gael); An Seanadóir Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fáil): Senator Ned O’Sullivan (Fianna Fáil).