Ireland

Basic information

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Mechanisms of Vertical Integration

National — sub-national linkages

There is no intensive coordination between the national and sub-national levels in NSDS processes. The NSDS 1997 does not lay out an institutional process of linking activities on the different political levels. Several developments on the sub-national level were even contradictory to NASD principle, e.g. the housing development. There is some coordination between the national level and the County and City Managers’ Association (CCMA) on water and waste issues. For the current revision of the NSDS, the sub-national levels were consulted, but not in a formal way. For instance, there was some coordination with the CCMA.

The sub-national level is also not involved in “Comhar” (The Sustainable Development Council). Although the state and public sector is one of the five sectors involved, this does not include the sub-national levels.

The Network of LA21, a network that aimed to link LA 21 processes across the country, ceased its operation. It did not create a link between the NSDS and the LA21 initiatives.

EU linkages

The renewed EU Strategy for Sustainable Development (EU SDS) that was adopted in June 2006 foresees that Member States bi-annually report about how they address the priorities of the EU SDS. Ireland has published its first national report on implementing the EU SDS in July 2007.

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Mechanisms of Horizontal Integration

The NSDS identifies institutions, procedures, and policy instruments which should enhance policy coherence. The institutions mentioned include a sub-committee of the parliament – the Joint Oricheastas Committee on SD – established to monitor and examine SD issues, the National Sustainable Development Partnership and the Government’s Strategic Management Initiative. It is further outlined how these bodies and processes should contribute to the implementation, monitoring and review of the strategy.

To oversee and guide the process of revising the NSDS, a High-Level Inter-Departmental Steering Group was established to ensure comprehensive, high-level input across the range of Government policies bearing on the SD agenda.

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Evaluation and Review

Both, the Parliamentary Sub-committee and the National Sustainable Development Council (“Comhar”) evaluate the implementation of the strategy. The review of the strategy, 'Making’s Ireland Development Sustainable: review, assessment and future action' was published in 2002. The review report was produced by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for the Johannesburg World Summit in 2002. The report examines progress made in the ten years since the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit.

Currently, there is a revision of the 2002 report ongoing which was finished in spring 2007. This will be an internal report by the Department of Environment, however, investigations will be undertaken across departments and Comhar will also have some input. The outcome of the new review will inform the decision whether to develop a new NSDS or to update the current one.

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Indicators and Monitoring

The Irish NSDS does not specify indicators for monitoring the implementation of the strategy. In 2002, a report ‘National Progress Indicators for Sustainable Economic, Social and Environmental Development’ was published by the National Economic and Social Committee (NESC). Since 2003, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) annually publishes the indicator report ‘Measuring Ireland’s Progress’ (most recently published in 2006), describing the economic, social and environmental situation in Ireland. A most recent report, 'Counting What Counts', published in 2007, reviews and makes recommendations on Ireland’s SDIs including selection criteria. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protects the environment through its licensing, enforcement and monitoring activities. Details of the Agency’s activities and publications can be found at www.epa.ie, including its most recent report ‘Ireland’s Environment 2008 Report’

The full list(s) of indicators as identified by a study commissioned by Eurostat can be downloaded here:

• CSO indicators (2006)

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Participation

A National Sustainable Development Council, ‘Comhar’, was established in 1999 as a forum for consultation and dialogue on issues related to SD. Its purpose is to advance the national agenda for SD, including evaluating progress, assisting in devising suitable mechanisms and advising on their implementation. Comhar is made up of representatives coming from the state sector, economic sector, environmental NGOs, social/community NGOs, and the professional/academic sector. The budget for Comhar is provided by the Department of the Environment and Local Government. Each year, Comhar publishes an annual report giving details of work carried out during the reporting period. The reports include details of any recommendations made during the year in question, and information on activities and events. The latest report was published in 2006.

Comhar carried out stakeholder consultations during the review of the NSDS. Three regional seminars (Dublin, Cork and Sligo) were held in mid-2007. The outcome of these seminars, and the Comhar sponsored research on indicators, education for SD, and sustainable consumption will bring a significant stakeholder/civil society perspective to the review of the NSDS. In addition, funding of €30,000 has been made available to the NGO sector to facilitate the preparation of their input to the NSDS process.

For a detailed documentation of all advisory and participatory councils (for SD and/or the environment) in this country, please go to the EEAC website at http://www.eeac-net.org/bodies/ireland/ir_frame.htm and click on one of the listed institutions.

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Sub-national activities

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This Country Profile has been last updated on: Friday, 05 December 2008

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