'THE STATE WE'RE IN'

'THE STATE WE'RE IN', a new TV documentary series on Ireland's environment, was launched today by Mr. Noel Dempsey, TD, Minister for the Environment and Local Government. The series was conceived by the Environmental Protection Agency in association with the independent TV producer Time Horizon Productions, and takes an incisive look at the issues currently impacting on the Irish environment. Minister Dempsey praised the documentary series for its balanced presentation and in-depth assessment of the problems and issues affecting Ireland's environment in the early years of the new millennium.

"The EPA monitors the state of our air, water and land and strives to bring such information to the attention of the Irish public" said Declan Burns, Deputy Director General, EPA. "Through the television series we want to raise awareness of what each of us as individuals can accomplish in our everyday lives to improve the quality of our environment."

How can Ireland solve its mounting waste problem? Is agriculture really a bigger cause of lake and river pollution than industry? Will climate change bring long, balmy summers or violent storms in the future? 'THE STATE WE'RE IN' assesses the negative effects the so-called "Celtic Tiger" has had on our cities, towns and countryside.

In this series Ireland's record and response is compared to that of other countries in Europe and their solutions to environmental challenges. It looks at the possible solutions that lie not just in the hands of scientists, industrialists and policy makers, but with every individual.

"THE STATE WE'RE IN" begins on RTE 1, Tuesday April 17 2001 at 7 pm.