Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment is represented across several units of the Permanent Representation, including the Environment, Energy and Telecommunications units with relevant attachés.
The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment works in the Environment Unit to advance Irish interests and national policy during the development of and implementation of environment policy/legislation agreed at EU level. The work of the unit includes participating in Working Party meetings on EU legislation in areas such as Climate Change, Air Quality, and Waste within the Environment Council (ENVI). ENVI works to promote a greener Europe through more efficient use of available natural resources, while also debating and working to develop solutions to the environmental challenges faced by Member States. In carrying out this work, the Unit acts as the day–to-day communication link between policy units within the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and the EU institutions. The Unit also regularly meets with NGOs and other key European stakeholders.
The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment is responsible for all matters relating to energy in the Permanent Representation. At the EU level, energy issues are dealt with at the Energy Council. When contributing in the Energy Council, the key aims are to promote and pursue Ireland’s key energy goals and policy objectives through the accurate, timely and effective articulation and representation of Ireland’s position, in addition to promoting and pursuing our energy objectives with the EU Commission, European Parliament and other EU institutions and at European and international gatherings and other fora.
The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment is also responsible for all matters relating to Telecommunications and Information Society. At the EU level, Telecommunications and Information Society issues are dealt with at the Telecommunications Council. The Telecommunications attaché in the Permanent Representation is responsible for all matters relating to telecommunications, audio-visual and postal policy. All Commission legislative and non-legislative proposals in these policy areas are examined in the Council Working Party on Telecommunications and Information Society and major policy proposals are also debated by Ministers in the Telecommunications Council.