Press Statement
The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) today welcomed the passing of a motion in the Dáil on 14 June that allows Ireland to ratify the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (commonly referred to as the Aarhus Convention). The Aarhus Convention links Environmental and Human Rights, recognising in the preamble to the Convention that "adequate protection of the environment is essential to human well-being and the enjoyment of basic human rights, including the right to life itself". The IHRC notes that Ireland is the only EU State that had not ratified the Convention and thus the timing of the ratification is particularly welcome, coming as it does at the time of the Rio+20 Summit (United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development) in which the Aarhus Convention has its origin.