Amendments Nos. 185 and 186 are related and may be discussed together by agreement.
SECTION 48.
I move amendment No. 185:
In page 69, subsection (5), line 19, to delete "consult with such" and substitute "publish a notice in a national newspaper informing the public of the application for a surrender of the licence and shall invite submissions from interested parties. It shall also consult with such other".
Without delaying the meeting and not wishing to minimise the importance of the amendment, the arguments I made about public submissions on the transfer of licences and licences changing hands behind closed doors apply here.
I do not intend to accept the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Amendment No. 186 not moved.
I move amendment No. 186a:
In page 69, subsection (6), line 29, after "emissions" to insert "or activity".
The Minister was not clear earlier on the use of the word "activity" versus "emissions". I will not press the amendment unless he has a road to Damascus conversion.
I might if I knew what the Deputy was talking about. Perhaps he would explain it to me.
I will wait for Report Stage.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Amendment No. 187 is consequential on amendment No. 188 and both may be discussed together by agreement.
I move amendment No. 187:
In page 69, subsection (8) (a), line 37, to delete "and".
These amendments collectively would require the agency, when it has made a decision on an application to surrender a waste licence, to inform the local authority in whose functional area the licensed activity is located.
Subsection (8) already requires the agency to convey the decision to the applicant and any other person it may have consulted in relation to the surrender application. These amendments will ensure that the relevant local authority is also informed in all cases where it would have already been consulted in accordance with section 42 (2) prior to making the initial decision to grant the licence. It is a notification procedure to the local authority.
Amendment agreed to.
I move amendment No. 188:
In page 69, subsection (8), between lines 37 and 38, to insert the following:
"(b) the local authority in whose functional area the activity, the subject matter of the waste licence, has been carried on, and".
Amendment agreed to.
Section 48, as amended, agreed to.