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Ireland’s Long Run Social Development and VulnerabilitySource: Comhar, 2002Sustainable development is dependent on collaboration and partnershipacross government, but also with NGOs and the individualcitizen. The challenge in breaking the negative relationship betweeneconomic growth and environmental protection is a significant one.Meeting these challenges is exacerbated by a number of factors:●7. The development of resource potential in one region shouldnot compromise the ability of other regions to achieve theirown potential8. Social inclusion should be promoted to ensure an improvedquality of life for all9. Sustainable development depends on co-operation andagreement between states10. The quality of landscapes, the heritage of the man-madeenvironment and historic and cultural resources should bemaintained and improved11. Decision-making should be devolved to the appropriate level12. Stakeholder participation should be promoted at all levels ofdecision-makingThe highly politicised and often emotive debates around wastemanagement, water charges, etc.;● Public attitudes towards paying for environmental protection – aDepartment of the Environment and Local Government surveyin 2001 showed that, while Irish people are quite concernedabout environmental quality and issues, less than 20 per centwere willing to pay higher taxes or prices, or make cuts in theirstandard of living, to this end.The Council welcomes the recent developments as outlined above,which each contribute to ensuring that environmental protection is akey dimension of economic and social development, in terms ofboth policy development and implementation. In particular, itsupports the policy objective of increased eco-efficiency, which97