Ireland submitted its first National Implementation Report under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (known as the Aarhus Convention) to the secretariat of the Aarhus Convention on 31st December 2013. Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government thanked those who participated in the public consultation process, remarking “I am very pleased to be in a position to submit Ireland’s first national implementation report to the secretariat of the Aarhus Convention. This document will prove a useful resource to those seeking information on the implementation of the Convention in Ireland. Public participation is central to the Aarhus Convention and I wish to thank those who participated in the public participation process which was integral in developing the report.”
The Aarhus Convention lays down a set of basic rules to promote citizen’s involvement in environmental matters and improve enforcement of environmental law. Its provisions are broken down into three Pillars: Access to Information, Public Participation in Environmental Decision-making, and Access to Justice. Ireland ratified the Aarhus Convention on 20 June 2012.
Public Participation
The Minister said “The level of public engagement in the development of the report illustrates the growing interest in this area in Ireland. The consultation process sought to provide the UNECE, the Aarhus Convention secretariat and the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee with the widest possible range of views and opinions on issues related to the implementation and practical arrangements for the promotion of the Aarhus Convention in Ireland”.
The Minister launched the first phase of the public consultation on June 7th 2013. Twenty-one submissions were received during this phase and these have been examined and, where appropriate, reflected in the second draft of the report. The Minister launched the second phase on 30th September 2013. Twelve submissions were received during this latter phase. The final report reflects comments received during the consultation process.
A copy of the report as submitted is available at www.environ.ie/en/Environment/AarhusConvention/PublicConsultations/
This webpage also contains information on how the submissions were considered and where comments made have not been reflected in the second draft, a rationale for why they have not been reflected.
All submissions received have been made available on the Department’s website in the spirit of transparency which is integral to the Aarhus Convention.
For more information, please see www.environ.ie/en/Environment/AarhusConvention/PublicConsultations/.
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