Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
116. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications whether his Department has recommended that climate obligations be factored into such decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36715/23]
View answerThe Environmental Protection Agency undertakes a range of regulatory tasks relating to the licensing, permitting, consenting or certification of activities that could have an impact on the environment or on human health. In this context, the Agency is the competent authority for granting and enforcing industrial and waste licences.
Section 15 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, as amended by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, relates to the duties of certain bodies, including the Agency, to perform their functions in a manner consistent with -
(a) the most recent approved climate action plan,
(b) the most recent approved national long term climate action strategy,
(c) the most recent approved national adaptation framework and approved sectoral adaptation plans,
(d) the furtherance of the national climate objective, and
(e) the objective of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change in the State.
