Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 October 2023
83. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline the environmental standards and nature protection provisions his Department oversees; the level of activity of enforcement in each case, covering inspections, issuing of notices, and prosecution; and if he plans to step up activity. [46969/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraISO, the International Organisation for Standardisation, produces Standards which are voluntary documents that contain the distilled knowledge of businesses and experts from around the world. These standards are available through NSAI.
The use of Standards enables businesses of all sizes to take a planned, proactive approach to risk mitigation. Adopting Standards can meet customer requirements and enhance their satisfaction. The Standards offered by NSAI give companies the tools to ensure the fundamentals of their business are sound.
Achieving third-party certification independently validates compliance with best practices as set out in Standards. NSAI provides independent certification to organisations, enabling them to demonstrate compliance with international standards. This allows them to demonstrate that they operate to the highest international standards.
The specific standards NSAI audit organisations against in the area of environmental protection include:
ISO 14001, an International Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Standard, was developed to help organisations identify, manage and control those activities that have an environmental impact. It helps organisations improve their environmental performance through more efficient use of resources and reduction of waste, gaining a competitive advantage and the trust of stakeholders. ISO 14001 is suitable for organisations of all types and sizes, be they private, not-for-profit or governmental. It requires that an organisation considers all environmental issues relevant to its operations, such as air pollution, water and sewage issues, waste management, soil contamination, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and resource use and efficiency.
ISO 14064-1. The International Standards Organisation (ISO) has produced the ISO 14060 suite of standards and guidelines in response to the need for auditable tools that will help address climate change through a systematic approach to greenhouse gas (GHG) quantification, monitoring, reporting, validation and verification in a comprehensive and auditable manner. They have been developed to impact all levels and functions of an organisation, from strategic formulation and risk management to data verification within GHG statements and improvement projects. NSAI offer an auditing service against:
I.S. EN ISO 14064-1:2019: Greenhouse gases - Part 1: Specification with guidance at the organisation level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals. This standard details principles and requirements for designing, developing, managing and reporting organisation-level GHG boundaries and inventories. Requirements and guidance on inventory quality management, reporting, internal auditing and the organisation’s responsibilities in verification activities are also included in the standard.
