Launch of Public Consultation for the AC-NIR (2025) and PRTR-NIR (2025)

• Launch of Public Consultation for Ireland's National Implementation Report 2025 pursuant to the Aarhus Convention and the National Implementation Report 2025 pursuant to the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers.

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications launched two public consultations in relation to the environment on Friday, 7 March, 2025.

The first relates to the National Implementation Report 2025 pursuant to Aarhus Convention (AC-NIR) and the second relates to the National Implementation Report 2025 under the Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers for Ireland’s National Implementation Report (PRTR-NIR) under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (known as the PRTR Protocol).

Both of these reports are required in advance of the Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention and Protocol which takes place every 4 years and is scheduled for November 2025.

The Parties to the Convention’s reports are published on the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s (UNECE) website.

The aim of these reports is to reflect the national implementation of the principles enshrined in the Aarhus Convention which addresses access to environmental information, public participation in environmental decision-making and access to justice in relation to environmental matters.

These consultations provide an opportunity for the public and stakeholders to express their views in relation to the last 4 years' activities detailed in the reports.

The consultations are open from 7 March to 5.30pm on 7 April 2025.

Following the receipt of comments, it is proposed to collate the submissions and incorporate them in the relevant sections of the final report which will be submitted to the Aarhus Secretariat.

The text of the AC-NIR can be found at Public consultation on the Aarhus Convention National Implementation Report (NIR) 2025.

The text of the PRTR-NIR can be found at Public consultation on the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) National Implementation Report (NIR) 2025.

Submission can be made by email to aarhus-decc@decc.gov.ie or by post to:

The Aarhus Unit, Department of Climate, Environment and Energy, Tom Johnston House, Haddington Road, Dublin, D04 K7X4.

ENDS