PRESENTATION TO THE IRELAND WATER CONFERENCE 2018

Transcription

1 Civic Offices, Limerick Road Nenagh, Co. Tipperary PRESENTATION TO THE IRELAND WATER CONFERENCE TH APRIL 2018

2 ESTABLISHMENT OF AN FÓRAM UISCE Established in accordance with the Water Services Act members nominated from over 50 organisations. Chaired by Dr. Tom Collins Role of Public Water Forum and National Rural Water Services Committee subsumed into An Fóram.

3 ROLE OF AN FÓRAM UISCE Advise Minister in relation to Government Policy on water issues. Advise in relation to the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan for Ireland Make recommendations to Irish Water in relation to its functions Advise CRU on issues pertaining to Irish Water Issues relating to the Water Framework Directive

4 ROLE OF AN FÓRAM UISCE An Fóram is the only statutory body representative of all stakeholders with an interest in the quality of Ireland s water bodies. An Fóram is the interface between science, citizen/stakeholder engagement and water policy. Outputs informing national policy, the implementation of the RBMP and the work of Irish Water.

5 KEY POSITION An Fóram considers it position to be pivotal in the context of Encouraging and facilitating engagement ; Challenging policies; Seeking resource allocations and; Reviewing actions Seeking joined-up thinking with the single focus of the continuous improvement of water quality in Ireland.

6 GROWING REALISATION We note the growing realisation that the well being of o our natural environment; o our built environment; o our economy and ; o human health are all inextricably linked.

7 SUBMISSIONS TO DATE Draft River Basin Management Plan National Planning Framework The Nitrates Action Programme Irish Water s National Water Resource Plan CRU consultation on Irish Waters proposed connection charges (non-domestic) EPA Septic Tank Inspection Plan Draft Water Services Guidelines for Planning Authorities

8 GUIDING PRINCIPLE FOR DEVELOPMENT The future development of the country must be built upon the need to protect our environment the requirements of the WFD must be centre stage in the context of all decisions with regard to policy development and land use planning.

9 CORE PRINCIPLES FOR ALL POLICIES All national policies and plans should be Fore-grounded in the core principles set out in the River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2018 to 2021 The absolute need to protect and restore our waters.

10 OUR CONCERNS Ensuring that the mitigation strategies provided in policies and plans are sufficient to protect and restore our waters. Ensuring that those strategies are implemented fully. Finding our role in terms of oversight of the implementation processes. Identifying how we measure and maintain progress.

11 OUR INSPIRATION An Fóram must be inspired by higher ideals. These may be concerned with a commitment to the common good and to ideals of democracy which can be traced back to Aristotle s ancient Greece. As Aristotle saw it, a state is something more than an investment; its purpose is not merely to provide a living but to make a life that is worthwhile Riesing,C.D., Aristotle s Common Good-A Historical Analysis of Aristotle s Politics; Portland State University;2014).

12 OUR INSPIRATION Worthwhileness was achieved where private, selfish aims were subordinated to those of the common, public good.

13 OUR INSPIRATION If An Fóram is to transcend the role of a mere brokerage function between competing interests, it must be motivated by such an ethos. Considering the stake which future generations have in the deliberations and decisions of the current one on environmental issues, this ethical imperative becomes all the more important.

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15 Civic Offices, Limerick Road Nenagh, Co. Tipperary THANK YOU APRIL 2018