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MEPIELAN E-Bulletin is a digital academic and practitioner newsletter of the MEPIELAN Centre, launched in 2010.  It features insight articles, reflective opinions, specially selected documents and cases, book reviews as well as news on thematic topics of direct interest of MEPIELAN Centre and on the activities and role of MEPIELAN Centre. Its content bridges theory and practice perspectives of relational international law, international environmental law and participatory governance , and international negotiating process, thus serving the primary goal of Centre: to develop an integrated, inter-disciplinary, relational, context-related and sustainably effective governance approach creating, protecting and advancing international common interest for the present and future generations. Providing a knowledge- and information-sharing platform and a scholarly forum, the Bulletin promotes innovative ideas and enlightened critical views, contributing to a broader scholarly debate on important issues of international common interest. The audience of the Bulletin includes academics, practitioners, researchers, university students, international lawyers, officials and personnel of international organizations and institutional arrangements, heads and personnel of national authorities at all levels (national, regional and local), and members of the civil society at large.

Public Participation in Environmental Governance

Ireland Submits its First Aarhus Convention National Implementation Report 2014

January 24, 2014

On 31st December 2013, Republic of 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.

Article 10(2) of the Aarhus Convention requires the Meeting of the Parties (MOP) to keep under continuous review the implementation of the Convention on the basis of regular reporting by the Parties through National Implementation Reports**.

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.

Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government 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 Ministry of the Environment initially prepared a preliminary draft National Implementation Report to outline the implementation of the Aarhus Convention in Ireland and invited comments from stakeholders, members of the public and other interested parties.

The first phase of public consultation was launched on June 7th 2013.  Twenty-one submissions were received, examined and, where appropriate, reflected in the second draft of the report.  On 30th September 2013, the Minister launched the second phase in which twelve submissions were received.  The final report adequately reflects most comments received during the consultation process. All submissions received were analyzed and summaries of the issues raised were outlined in decision-making tables.  These set out which comments were included in the final draft and, for those that were not included, the rationale for their omission**.

Notes:
*Republic of Ireland ratified the Aarhus Convention on 20 June 2012.
**Τhe format for the Aarhus Convention National Implementation Report (NIR) is in accordance with Decision IV/4 (ECE/MP.PP/2011/2/Add.1), whereas guidance for NIRs is provided by the Online Reporting Tool on the Online Database of NIRs, see:  http://www.unece.org/env/pp/reports.html
***As required by transparency principle provided in Arts. 4(7), 5(7) of the Aarhus Convention

Source: UNECE
For further information:
http://aarhusclearinghouse.unece.org/news/1000667/?year=0
http://www.environ.ie/en/Environment/News/MainBody,34984,en.htm
http://www.environ.ie/en/Environment/AarhusConvention/PublicConsultations/
http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/Environment/Miscellaneous/FileDownLoad,34986,en.pdf

About the author

MEPIELAN Centre
Author's Website

MEPIELAN Centre is an international research, training and educational centre established by Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos at the Panteion University of Athens in 2008.

Before its establishment as a University Centre, MEPIELAN operated as a successful international research, training and informational programme (2002-2007) under the scientific direction of Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos and the aegis of the Panteion University of Athens, supported by the Mediterranean Action Plan/UNEP and the Greek Ministry of the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works.

MEPIELAN Centre is an accredited UNEP/MAP PARTNER (since 2013), a Member of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development (MCSD) (since 2016), and a Member of the Steering Committee of the MCSD (since 2019).

On 22 May 2022, MEPIELAN Centre proceeded to the development of MEPIELAN as a Non- Profit Civil Organization (INGO) for the more effective and efficient advancement of its Goals and Missions and furtherance of its activities. MEPIELAN Centre as a Non- Profit Civil Organization (INGO) is registered in Greek Law (Hellenic Business Registry, Reg. No. 16477300100) in accordance with Laws 4072/2012 & 4919/2022 as applicable

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