Vol. 429 No. 1
38 Mr. Cox asked the Minister for the Environment if the full board for the Environmental Protection Agency has been appointed; and if he has satisfied himself that there is adequate representations of all walks of life on the board.
On 4 March last, I announced the appointment by the Government of the director general and four directors of the Environmental Protection Agency. These appointments were made from candidates selected by an independent selection committee and the persons concerned will bring together a wide range of expertise on the environment.
Under the relevant legislation, the directors of the agency are to be selected for appointment by reference to their personal knowledge, experience and relevant qualifications rather than on a representative basis. The expertise of the directors will, however, be supplemented by an advisory committee, seven members of which will be appointed from persons nominated by a broad range of organisations.
39 Mr. M. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment when he envisages the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency in Johnstown Castle, County Wexford; the proposals, if any, he has for the establishment of a monitoring facility in the Cork region where many pharmaceutical facilities are located and much of the country's experience in this area is concentrated; and his views on the role UCC and the regional technical college have to offer in environmental protection.
It is proposed formally to establish the Environmental Protection Agency, which will have its headquarters in Johnstown Castle, within the next few months when the recently appointed directors of the agency have had an opportunity to put preliminary arrangements in place. There is an obligation on the agency to arrange, as far as is practicable, for the performance of its functions through regional environmental units. The location of such units will be a matter for decision by the agency in the first instance, and emphasis will be on the use of existing facilities in so far as is feasible.
