Trevor Sargent
Ceist:138 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the extent to which any recommendations from Comhar have been implemented by any Government Department. [5374/01]
Written Answers. - Comhar Recommendations.
Comhar – the National Sustainable Development Partnership – was formally established in February 1999. Its terms of reference are to advance the national agenda for sustainable development, to evaluate progress in this regard, to assist in devising suitable mechanisms and advising on their implementation and to contribute to the formation of a national consensus in these regards.
Since its establishment, Comhar has worked actively to fulfil its mandate, including through recommendations relating to: the Planning and Development Bill, 1999; the draft national climate change strategy; preparation of the national spatial strategy; draft operational programmes to implement the National Development Plan, 2000-06, community support framework; the proposed sixth EU environment action programme; preparation of a headline set of sustainable development indicators; and revised guidelines on local agenda 21.
These recommendations have been addressed for the most part to my Department. I am committed to considering carefully any recommendations made by Comhar on sustainable development policies which come within my area of responsibility. I am satisfied that the work of Comhar has been influential in this regard and has contributed constructively to policy development and implementation.
It is open to Comhar within its terms of reference to review and monitor implementation of its recommendations. My Department has contributed to this process through providing feedback to Comhar and it will continue to do so as appropriate.