Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has launched the second phase of public consultation for Ireland's 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).

The Aarhus Convention lays down a set of basic rules to promote citizens' involvement in environmental matters and improve enforcement of environmental law.

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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.

The Minister said: "I encourage members of the public and other parties with an interest in the protection of Ireland’s environment to submit comments on the implementation of the Aarhus Convention into Irish law. The purpose of this consultation is 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 and it is therefore important that people avail of the opportunity to contribute."

(CD/IT)