Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 13 Oct 1998

Vol. 495 No. 1

Written Answers. - Environmental Policy.

John Gormley

Ceist:

76 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government whether it is his intention, in ratifying the United Nations Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, to adopt the minimum standards set out in the Convention which has already been adopted and signed by 30 countries; the plans, if any, he has to implement a best practice approach to the implementation of the Convention on its being transposed into Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17663/98]

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

87 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to ensure that the public has access to all pollution emissions data for every plant operating here consequent on signing the UN ECE Convention on Access to Environmental Information. [19273/98]

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

108 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to ensure that the public has access to all pollution emissions data for every plant operating here consequent on signing the UN ECE Convention on Access to Environmental Information. [19272/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

293 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will identify the areas of Irish law which currently exceed the minimum standards set out in the United Nations Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters; the areas which are in line with the best international practice in the areas treated under the Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17664/98]

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

294 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will identify the areas of Irish law which currently exceed the minimum standards set out in the United Nations Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters; the areas which are in line with the best international practice in the areas treated under the Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17665/98]

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

295 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, the Government has to effect the ratification of the United Nations Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, which has already been adopted and signed but which awaits this final step in order to be transposed into Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17560/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

297 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the measures and initiatives which will be required within his Department to bring its operation into line with the United Nations Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters which the Government has adopted and signed and committed itself to transposing into Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17662/98]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 76, 87, 108, 293, 294, 295, and 297 together.

As I outlined to the House in response to Questions Nos. 546, 550, 551 and 555 on 30 September 1998, I was pleased to be in a position to sign, on behalf of Ireland, the United Nations Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters at Aarhus in June of this year. My Department's detailed examination of the terms and implications of ratification of the Convention, including issues such as the making available of emissions data, will of necessity take some time. This is partly because the examination will also cover the relationship of our prospective obligations under the Convention with the existing statutory provisions on access to information on the environment and the Freedom of Information Act, 1997. I intend to ensure that Ireland will be in a position to ratify the Convention, and meet all its requirements in full, as quickly as possible.