Vol. 564 No. 1
92 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will consider providing in legislation for an independent right of appeal to An Bord Pleanála in regard to draft decisions made by the Environmental Protection Agency for integrated pollution control licences. [8627/03]
The complex technical and specialised nature of issues that may arise in relation to applications for integrated pollution control licences makes it appropriate that decisions on such applications be taken by a highly expert, independent body. The legislation has mandated the establishment of such a body in the Environmental Protection Agency which has developed considerable experience in IPC licensing over the past eight years.
The provisions of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 regarding notification of licence applications and proposed decisions, which I propose to enhance in some respects in the Protection of the Environment Bill 2003, ensure that the agency considers any relevant view that is put to it in respect of an application or a proposed determination.
I do not propose to alter the fundamental structure of the IPC licensing system which has worked effectively for environmental protection since its inception. Environmental regulation, in common with all regulatory systems, should operate as efficiently and economically as requirements permit. It would not be consistent with this approach to extend responsibility for IPC licensing to a second expert body.
