Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald has indicated the Government is reviewing the name of Denis Naughten’s new Department in response to campaigners opposing the proposed abolition of the Department of Environment.
More than 12,000 people have signed a petition to request Enda Kenny reverse his decision, made when he announced the new ministerial line-up on May 6. High profile signatories include chef Darina Allen, naturalist Eanna Ní Lamhna, filmmaker Pat Murphy, and broadcaster Duncan Stewart.
The move would leave Ireland as the only EU country without a Minister for the Environment. Eanna Ní Lamhna commented: “Having no named Department of the Environment sends out a very strong message that the natural environment is not considered to be of any consequence by the Irish Government. This is outrageous. There should be a strong and well-funded Department dealing with all natural environment issues - natural heritage, wildlife, water, air, waste, forestry, soil, and climate change.”
More than 700 people have written to their local TDs asking that the Department of Environment be restored with responsibility for all environmental functions, now spread across three departments.
Writing in response to a constituent, Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald said: “The new Government has decided to move environmental-related policy (including energy, environmental protection and standards, and natural resources ) into a single Department to ensure a joined-up approach to environmental policy. This will give environment policy the full attention and resources of a single Department. The final name of the Department will be confirmed by Government at a future date.”
Director of Friends of the Earth, Oisín Coghlan, commented: “It is encouraging that the Government is reviewing the name of Minister Naughten’s Department. It would be absurd if Ireland had no Minister for the Environment. But to deliver the promised ‘joined-up approach’ Minister Naughten also has to be given responsibility for the natural environment and water quality, not just air quality, waste, and climate change.
“Friends of the Earth has written to the Taoiseach proposing a straight swap between Denis Naughten and Heather Humphreys of the communications and heritage divisions. Denis Naughten would then be Minister for the Environment, Climate Change, and Natural Heritage.”
