Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2017
1155. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the guidelines or regulations appertaining to the dumping of various forms of waste at landfill facilities throughout the country; the way a threat to the environment is determined in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14270/17]
View answerThe Waste Management Act 1996 and the Waste Management (Licensing) Regulations 2004 govern the process under which waste licences are applied for and maintained. Once granted, each waste licence defines the nature of environmentally acceptable activities that can take place at a waste facility, including the acceptable types of waste that can be received. This is done by the conditions of the licence which are set by the Environmental Protection Agency.
I have no function in relation either to the setting of operating conditions or their enforcement and under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act 1996, as Minister, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance by the Environmental Protection Agency, in particular circumstances, of a statutory function vested in it.
