Dear All,
As you know, the call for nominees for the new Advisory Councils is expected in February and SWAN will again be co-ordinating the selection of the environmental nominees to the Councils. To do this, we are organising a series of selection meetings around the country – one in each RBD, in conjunction with SWAN members, as agreed at the SWAN plenary. The schedule for most of the meetings is finalised. Please see the details below. Please also see below a notice for the meetings. This is for your own information and also to circulate to your members. We would especially like to thank all the SWAN groups who agreed to co-host a meeting with SWAN in their RBD.
It would be very much appreciated if you could put the date relevant to your RBD into your diary. We would kindly like to ask you to circulate the draft notice below to your members to attend the meetings and please promote it:
Ø To members of your organisation in your RBD - with an email notice and/or inclusion in your newsletter and some follow-up calls to key members to motivate them to attend
Ø To other local / RBD eNGO contacts you may have in the region
We will be sending a two-page briefing sheet, outlining the role of the Advisory Council and including background information on the WFD and the River Basin Management Plans for circulation to your members, in the first week of January.
In the meantime we would like to encourage you to put one or more of your members forward.
Programme of SWAN Advisory Council Nominee Selection Meetings:
South Western RBD:
§ Cohost: Cork Environmental Forum
§ When: Tuesday, 19th January at 7pm
§ Where: Cork City, the Gresham Metropole hotel, MacCurtain Street in Cork
South Eastern RBD:
§ Cohost: An Taisce & Coastwatch
§ When: Thursday, 21st January
§ Where: Enniscorthy (venue to be confirmed)
Eastern RBD:
§ Cohost: An Taisce
§ When: Monday, 25th January
§ Where: Dublin City, Central hotel, Exchequer street, Dublin 2
Shannon RBD:
§ Cohost: SOLR
§ When: Tuesday, 26th January
§ Where: Athlone, Shamrock Lodge hotel, Clonown Rd, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
Western RBD:
§ Cohost: CMCWPG
§ When: Wednesday, 27th January at 8pm
§ Where: Galway City, Galway Bay hotel, The Promenade, Salthill, Co. Galway
North Western RBD: TBC
§ Cohost: Save the Swilly (TBC)
§ When: Tuesday, 2nd February (TBC)
§ Where: TBC
Neagh Bann RBD:
§ Cohost: Ballybay Wetlands Centre
§ When: Wednesday, 3rd February
§ Where: Monaghan, Ballybay; Ballybay Wetlands Centre, Derryvalley Farm, Ballybay, Co. Monaghan
Having a Say on new Water Advisory Councils
Nationwide Meetings to select Environmental Representatives for new River Basin Water Advisory Councils
Environmental Reps. for New Water Advisory Councils
The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) is co-hosting, with its member environmental groups* a series of meetings nationwide to select the environmental representatives to go forward for seven water Advisory Councils; one in each of seven regions (River Basin Districts) throughout the country.
River Basin Planning - Participation of Environmental Groups
River Basin Management Plans for the rivers; lakes; coastal and groundwaters of the country will come into force in 2010. These will set out measures to get the waters of all seven regions up to good status, as required by European law (the Water Framework Directive). Past experience shows that implementation of these Plans is far from guaranteed and that vigilance on the part of environmental groups will be necessary to ensure words translate into action.
Water Advisory Councils in each region provide an opportunity for us to participate in, and ensure the best implementation of the Plans.
What are the Water Advisory Councils?
These are statutory bodies set up in 2005 to provide an opportunity for public input into the river basin management process. They are made up of Councillors from all the local authorities in each River Basin District[1]and stakeholder representatives of various interests including farming; business; recreation and water protection. Their role is to consider matters relating to the river basin management process and other matters relevant to the protection and use of the aquatic environment and to advise and make recommendations on these matters to the relevant public authorities.
Selection Process
The term of the first Councils finished in early 2009 and a public call for stakeholder nominees for new councils is expected in mid February 2010. SWAN, in conjunction with its member organisations, will be co-ordinating the selection of nominees to go forward to the water Advisory Councils, through this series of facilitated meetings. Anyone who is interested in who will represent the environment sector on these Councils and would like to participate in the process of selecting these representatives in their region is encouraged to attend.
Many thanks and kind regards,
Bojana Ferjan
SWAN Network Support and Administrative Officer
SWAN (Sustainable Water Network)
9 Upper Mount Street
Dublin 2
01 6425583
bojana@swanireland.ie
www.swanireland.ie
