4 May 2006

Environment

Sustainable Development Policy

Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to review the National Sustainable Development Policy published almost ten years ago; if so, if that review process will include setting clear goals and targets for all Government Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Roche): The Government adopted Sustainable Development: A Strategy for Ireland in 1997. In preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, the Government reviewed progress on this strategy and published Making Ireland’s Development Sustainable: Review, Assessment and Future Action.

In June 2001, the European Council agreed a European Union Sustainable Development Strategy (EU SDS). The EU SDS is being reviewed at present, and this review is likely to be considered at, and adopted by, the European Council in June. The review is likely to emphasise the importance of measures, including indicators and targets, to evaluate progress on sustainable development strategies as well as calling on member states to review their domestic sustainable development strategies within a specified period. I envisage that Ireland’s strategy will be reviewed within this context and timescale.