Public Consultation for Ireland’s first Aarhus Convention National Implementation Report 2014

The 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) was launched on 7 June 2013. 

• 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. 
• 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. 
• Comments on the first phase of this public consultation should be submitted by email or received by post no later than 5pm on Friday 9 August 2013.

Preliminary Draft of Ireland’s National Implementation Report 2014  
Text of the Aarhus Convention  
ECOS Environmental Consultants Limited