Vol. 510 No. 6
309 Mr. M. Brady asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if, in view of the prohibitions on burning stubble for participants in the REP scheme, he will introduce regulations on the burning of stubble by farmers which can be environmentally injurious and a serious source of air pollution in areas adjacent to towns, villages and city suburbs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23575/99]
I have no proposals to make specific regulations in relation to the burning of stubble by farmers.
The Air Pollution Act, 1987, imposes a general obligation on the occupier of any premises, including land to use the best practicable means to prevent or limit emissions causing air pollution or nuisance. In addition, the occupier of any premises is prohibited from causing or permitting emissions in such a quantity or manner as to be a nuisance. The Act also empowers a local authority to serve a notice on the occupier of any premises from which there is an emission specifying the measures necessary to prevent or limit air pollution. Where it appears to a local authority that urgent measures are necessary to prevent or limit air pollution, the authority may take such steps and carry out such operations as it considers necessary for this purpose, with an option for recovery of costs through the courts.
