Council abolition 'strange and mistaken'

THE DECISION by the Minister for the Environment to abolish Comhar, the Sustainable Development Council, has been portrayed by environmental groups as “strange and mistaken”.

Under rationalisation plans announced by Phil Hogan this week, the work and functions of Comhar, which had a key advisory role on climate change, will be incorporated into the work of the wider National Economic and Social Council.

Three of Comhar’s six employees are on short-term contracts, which will expire later this year. The remaining three will be redeployed. The council’s website was taken down yesterday.

Pat Finnegan of Greenhouse Ireland Action Network (Grian), a member of the Comhar council, criticised the sudden nature of the abolition. “This is a strange decision, claiming to be aimed at saving money while also enhancing Ireland’s performance on sustainable development. The money is said to amount to €300,000 a year.

“Asking another body with very little environmental expertise and experience to do the barking instead of Comhar is essentially a downgrade,” he said.

Dan Boyle of the Green Party said he was saddened at what Mr Hogan was doing, which showed indifference to climate change. “It shows there is still plenty of justification for what the Greens are about,” he said. Molly Walsh of Friends of the Earth said it was a false economy and condemned the lack of consultation.

Mr Hogan’s spokeswoman dismissed suggestions the work was being downgraded or that he was indifferent to climate change.

She said the departmental review on climate change policy ordered by the Minister was now complete and would be presented to Cabinet shortly. She said arising from its deliberations, details of the full strategy would be unveiled later in the autumn.