Vol. 468 No. 1
36 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for the Marine the progress, if any, that has been made with regard to the preparation of the environmental quality status report in respect of OSPAR Region III; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14432/96]
Preparations are under way for the completion of an environmental quality status report (QSR) for the entire area covered by the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic — OSPAR — to which Ireland is a party. For the purpose of the report the Convention area has been divided into five sub-regions. Ireland and the UK are responsible for the preparation of the report in respect of Region III which includes the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, the area to the west of Ireland and the area to the west of Scotland.
Overall responsibility for the preparation of the report in respect of Region III including the synthesis of Irish and UK contributions, has been assigned to a joint Irish-UK Regional Task Team (RTT) that will meet periodically to review progress. Ireland is represented on this team by officials from the Departments of the Marine and Environment and the Marine Institute.
The Irish contribution to the QSR is being co-ordinated by the Marine Institute on behalf of the Departments of the Environment and the Marine. For this purpose, arrangements are in place to establish a national QSR office, consisting of a core group of scientists. The national team will commence operation this month. Work is on target to have the report in respect of Region III completed in time for the year 2000 deadline.
