International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

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29/09/09
A: “The conclusions adopted by the September 2008 EU Competitiveness
Council recalled the aim of the EU Sustainable Development Strategy on
Green Public Procurement and provided a comprehensive overview of
developments and commitments.
The Government’s commitment to green public procurement was
confirmed in the 2008 Framework For Sustainable Economic Renewal
Building Ireland’s Smart Economy. My Department is committed to the
preparation of an action plan on green public procurement. In doing so, we
will work with the Department of Finance’s National Public Procurement
Policy Unit which has overall responsibility for public procurement policy in
Ireland.”
Box Box Box 1: 1: Green Green Public Public Procurement Procurement 1081
In Ireland, the total Government and public sector purchasing budget is over €10 billion per
annum. If purchasers in the public sector consistently specified environmentally
advantageous criteria in their specifications, it would provide significant leverage to “move
the market” towards the economic provision of environmentally superior goods and services.
The Government is therefore committed to promoting Green Public Procurement (GPP).
The National Public Procurement Policy Unit (NPPPU) of the Department of Finance has
overall responsibility for public procurement policy in Ireland. NPPPU maintains the website
http://www.etenders.gov.ie/, a centralised portal containing comprehensive information on
public procurement. Sustainable Development Unit has the lead role in “greening”
procurement across the public sector. We therefore liaise closely with NPPPU on highlighting
information on http://www.etenders.gov.ie/ on how to integrate environmental
considerations into purchasing practices for goods and services. This includes the EU
Handbook on Environmental Public Procurement.
The Procura Plus Manual, published by ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, is a very
practical and useful guide to cost-effective public procurement. It includes international
examples and case studies from a variety of organisations in the public sector.
The European Commission maintains a dedicated website on Green Public Procurement. This
includes information on Member States’ National Action Plans on GPP, envisaged as part of
the implementation of the EU Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP). Sustainable
Development Unit is currently preparing Ireland’s National Action Plan on GPP.
2. Q: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
the action proposed to ensure that the EU sustainable strategy in respect
of green procurement targets will be met; and if he will make a statement
on the matter.
A: “We will also work with the National Procurement Operations Unit in the
Office of Public Works. The new Unit will be a centre of excellence for
public procurement generally and will facilitate the integration of whole-of-
Government policy issues in areas such as sustainability and the
1081 Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (2009) Sustainable Development
web page, Available: http://www.environ.ie/en/Environment/SustainableDevelopment/