Vol. 450 No. 3
39 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to a United States study in September 1994, showing the adverse effects of incineration on dioxin levels; the impact, if any, the United States study will have on his policy with regard to incineration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5019/95]
I am aware of the US study on dioxins published in September 1994. This was part of a wider reassessment of dioxin being conducted by the US Environmental Protection Agency and due for completion late this year. In the light of the study, the Irish Environmental Protection Agency decided to conduct a national baseline survey on dioxin levels in the Irish environment and its findings are expected to be published before the end of the year.
I will be giving detailed consideration to both the US and the Irish findings in the context of waste management policy development. In the meantime, I am satisfied that the most stringent standards for dioxin emissions, agreed within the EU, are being applied by the Environmental Protection Agency in its licensing of relevant industrial and waste plants.
