Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2013
836. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will investigate the damage caused to animal and crops by industries namely the ESB and a multi national alumina industry named in the European Environmental Agency report, in November 2011 revealing the cost of air pollution from industrial facilites in Europe. [57849/12]
View answer837. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will investigate the cost involved to the agriculture sector in general following the European Environmental Agency findings against the ESB and a multi national alumina industry. [57850/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 836 and 837 together.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply given by the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to written Parliamentary Question No. 296 on Tuesday 11th December 2012 (reference 55235/12). This is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for Environment Community and Local Government and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The EEA study referenced in the questions did not assess whether the emissions of a given facility are consistent with its legal requirements. There has been no breach of IPPC licensing conditions by ESB or other power plants. Monitoring undertaken by the EPA has shown that total emissions from such plants are consistently below the levels prescribed to ensure adequate protection of human health and the environment.
