Vol. 528 No. 1
11 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if Ireland has signed the European Landscape Convention, adopted by the Council of Ministers in July 2000 and open for signature from 20 October 2000 by member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25392/00]
Ireland has not yet signed the Council of Europe's European Landscape Convention. The convention aims to encourage public authorities to adopt policies and measures at local, regional, national and international level for protecting, managing and planning landscapes throughout Europe. The Planning and Development Act, 2000, makes improved provision for the protection of landscape. In addition, in June this year I issued for public consultation draft guidelines for planning authorities on landscape and landscape assessment and the submissions received are now being considered. My Department is examining the provisions of the convention in the light of the provisions of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, and the draft guidelines, with a view to submitting proposals to Government early in 2001 in relation to signature of the convention.
