Nuclear Plants

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018

Tuesday, 17 April 2018

Ceisteanna (1201)

Catherine Martin

Ceist:

1201. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if Ireland will support the findings and recommendations of the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee, which found that both Germany and the UK were in breach of the public participation requirements of the Convention in respect of the transboundary consultations provided for in the decision to approve the development consent for the nuclear power project in the UK, Hinkley Point C (details supplied); if attempts by the UK, the EU, other parties to the Convention and the nuclear lobby to undermine and weaken these findings of non-compliance which may occur at the September 2018 meeting of the parties to the Convention will be resisted; if not, the basis for the State's decision; the person or body that will represent Ireland at the upcoming Aarhus meeting in Montenegro from 11 to 14 September 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16671/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

I would like to clarify at the outset that there is no meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention scheduled to take place in September 2018.  The meeting referred to in the question appears to be the 6th Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention, which took place in Budva, Montenegro from 11 to 14 September 2017. Ireland was represented by officials from my Department at this meeting. The record of the meeting is available at https://www.unece.org/env/pp/aarhusmop6&prtrmopp3/main.html. The next such Meeting of the Parties is scheduled to take place in 2021.

As regards the substantive issues raised by the Deputy, I can confirm that, in Budva, Ireland did not object to the findings and recommendations of the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee regarding the compliance of the United Kingdom (reference ACCC/C/2013/91), which were duly endorsed by the Meeting of the Parties in September 2017.

As regards the findings and recommendations of the Compliance Committee with regard to Germany’s compliance with the Convention (reference ACCC/C/2013/92), it is recorded that Germany was not found to be in non-compliance.

I trust that I have clarified the position.