A regulation passed by the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday, July 3rd would be warmly welcomed by people in Ireland who were concerned about the environment and in particular by those with reservations about the Corrib Gas Pipeline and the proposed incinerator in Ringsend.

This was stated by Marian Harkin TD, MEP when she spoke in the Parliament on a report on the UN Aarhus Convention which enshrines citizens rights of access to information, public involvement in environmental decision making, and access to justice in environmental matters.

Ireland, unfortunately, had not yet ratified the UN Aarhus Convention and this placed Irish citizens at a disadvantage as it was the world’s most far reaching treaty on environmental issues which guaranteed the rights of citizens.

Too often Governments and public bodies paid lip service to public consultation and participation, she said.  It was seen as a necessary evil to be dispensed with as soon as possible, an inconvenience that the real decision makers had to endure.

Too often public participation was filed away and conveniently ignored and this was, of course, ‘the system’ which decided that citizens could not be trusted to participate in and influence important decisions, the Independent MEP said.  ‘The system’ was due for a shake up and the regulation agreed by the European Parliament would significantly help that process, she said.

Environment Commissioner Wallstrom had spoken of ‘Plan D’ for dialogue, debate and democracy and Aarhus was ‘Plan A’ a framework for ensuring dialogue, debate and  democracy in environmental matters, Marian Harkin said. 

It was gratifying to see the European Parliament going in the right direction even if some countries, including Ireland, were still dragging their heels, Marian Harkin TD, MEP said.