Gay Mitchell
Ceist:121 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the upcoming World Trade Organisation meeting and concerns raised by EARTHACTION (details supplied). [22270/99]
Written Answers. - Environmental Policy.
Ireland agrees that trade and environment policies should play a mutually supportive role in favour of sustainable development. The development of environmental policy worldwide has resulted in an increased use of trade measures for environmental purposes.
Ireland, along with our EU partners, is committed to closely incorporating environmental considerations into the forthcoming Seattle negotiations. We are aware of the important issues raised by EARTHACTION. These will be taken fully into account in the preparation of the Union approach to the Seattle meeting. The European Union has drawn up a set of priority issues for members to focus on, including a call for greater legal clarity on the relationship between WTO rules and trade measures taken pursuant to multilateral environmental agreements – MEAs – which remain the best way of tackling international environmental problems.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is in close contact with other relevant Departments, including the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Marine and Natural Resources and the Environment and Local Government in order to ensure a coherent approach on trade issues which takes developmental and environmental considerations fully into account.
Ireland is a fully committed to the principle of sustainable development in the context of our overseas development assistance. This includes sustainable forestry management and Irish aid is providing support for a number of projects in this area.
As a current member of the Commission on Sustainable Development – CSD – Ireland is taking a particular interest in the work of the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests – IFF – and providing voluntary funding support for its activities.