Is there any other business?
Business of Select Committee.
Last week's edition of the Leinster Leader contains an article by Paul O’Meara relating to an apology from Neiphin Trading Limited regarding bad smells emanating from its landfill site at Kerdiffstown. The company in question also placed an advertisement in the newspaper stating that it would like to bring the certain information to the attention of its neighbours in accordance with its public awareness and communications programme. The information in question is provided under eight headings. Neiphin Trading Limited lays the blame for its problem on the Environmental Protection Agency.
I do not know if the committee has a remit in respect of this matter. However, I am aware of the facility because it is located in constituency. The company in question is trying to resolve the issues relating to odours by means of installing certain equipment and taking particular actions. To do so, it requires permission from the EPA. The latter has not been forthcoming in the context of granting such permission. In its advertisement, Neiphin Trading Limited indicates that over 20 written reminders regarding these issues and their impact have been sent to the EPA but that permission has still not been received. The advertisement also asks people to accept the company's apologies if the problems relating to odours are impacting upon them and that it is continuing to do everything possible to sold those problems. Would it be appropriate for the committee to write to the EPA in order to ask it to comment on this matter, which is extremely serious for those who live adjacent to the facility in question?
I accept the Deputy's point. Perhaps he might give a copy of the advertisement to the clerk to the committee and we will write to the EPA requesting a response in respect of the issues that have been placed in the public arena as a result of the article and advertisement that appeared in last week's edition of the Leinster Leader.
I thank the Chairman for allowing me to raise this matter.
At a previous meeting, it was agreed that we would meet the mayors of various towns in the midlands and the directors of service who are responsible for flood relief in the region. What is the up-to-date position in this regard?
This is a select committee and, as a result, Senators who are members of the joint committee are not present. We will finalise the position with regard to our work on flooding at the next meeting of the joint committee. We are planning to have representatives from the Met Office present at next Tuesday's meeting of the joint committee in order that they might comment on issues relating to rainfall and climate. At that stage, we can agree to invite the people to whom the Deputy refers to come before us. Representatives of the ESB will also be asked to come before us. We will agree a timetable in respect of these matters at next week's meeting.
The select committee adjourned at 4.15 p.m. until 3.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 20 April 2010.