17 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make a statement on the Government's input into the review of the Fifth Action Programme, "Towards Sustainability" currently being prepared by the European Parliament. [9476/96]

A progress report for the purposes of the Fifth Action Programme on the Environment, "Towards Sustainability", was prepared by the European Commission during 1995. My Department supported this work by arranging for meetings between representatives of the Commission and relevant Irish Government Departments to discuss progress under the various areas of the Fifth Programme. In addition, my Department supplied further information and documentation to the Commission.

The progress report, outlining implementation to date, was published in January 1996. The Commission's proposal on the review of the Fifth Action Programme is now before Council and the European Parliament and I will be giving a high priority to its advancement during the Irish Presidency.