The Fourth Pan-European Ministerial Conference in Aarhus covered a wide range of issues relating to the environment of Europe as a whole. In so far as my Department is concerned, the main items for decision were the Convention on Access to Environmental Information and Public Participation in Environmental Decision-Making, the protocols on the control of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants, and a programme for the phase-out of leaded petrol. On behalf of Ireland, I signed the convention and the two protocols at Aarhus. My Department is carrying out a detailed examination of the terms and implications of the ratification of the convention. It is my intention to ensure Ireland is in a position to ratify it as quickly as possible.
In relation to the protocols on heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants, I am satisfied that current and planned measures under Community and Irish law, including integrated pollution control licensing and control of products, are adequate to ensure compliance with both protocols.
As Ireland is committed to phasing out leaded petrol by 2000, the 2005 deadline endorsed at Aarhus will not pose a problem.
Other aspects of the conclusions relating to, for example, climate change, energy efficiency and participation in improved environmental monitoring at European level, will be taken into account in ongoing environmental management and protection measures.
The conclusions adopted by the European and Japanese parliamentarians at their conference in Aarhus constitute a valuable contribution to the debate on environmental policy and I will have regard to them in the future formulation of relevant policy initiatives.
