asked the Minister for the Environment if he proposes to publish a policy document on environmental protection.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Environmental Protection.
13.
A statement on Government environment policy generally was issued in January 1982. A report on the state of the environment was subsequently commissioned from An Foras Forbartha and is expected to be completed shortly. The need for further policy documents will be considered in the light of the report.
The environmental advisory group in the Department submitted a document that was accepted as Government policy some time before January 1982, or at least a statement was issued in January 1982. Is the Minister suggesting that An Foras Forbartha have been sitting on this since January 1982?
I do not say they were sitting on it. They were asked to prepare a report and my information is that we will have it shortly. Such a matter of policy takes time to formulate. When we get the report we will be in a position to see what is the need for a further policy decision on the question of the environment.
Will the Minister state what environmental policy, as distinct from policy on housing and sanitary services, is being followed by his Department? What are the guidelines if he has not got an environmental policy on which to work?
Quite recently we commissioned a water management study of Dublin Bay and there are also operations within the EC. The matter of lead in petrol will be coming up at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers in December and there is also the question of emissions from large combustion plants. All these matters are ongoing in the Department. However, from time to time there should be a broad review of environmental policy. An Foras Forbartha are the State agency in this regard and they will report to us and on the basis of their report we will ascertain what further areas we should be looking at with regard to the environment.
The Minister spoke about emissions from industrial projects and there is also the question of acid rain. Will the Minister indicate what action his Department are taking with regard to emissions from the coal-burning station in Clare?
That is a general question.
The Minister raised the issues in his reply. It is a major question——
The Deputy asked what action was being pursued in the Department and I gave some instances. These matters will be coming up for discussion at the meeting of the Council of Ministers in December.
What are the Irish Ministers doing, for instance, with regard to emissions from the station in Clare? The Minister said they were proceeding on this policy and I have asked him a specific question with regard to a major plant in the country.
It is not specific. The question relates to the country and what is happening in the context of the EC. Standards are being set within the EC for this and this matter——
The Minister told us he had a policy but when I asked a question he did not give me a reply.
These matters are ongoing. The Deputy asked a question about protection of the environment——
I asked the Minister a supplementary question but he could not answer it. He has waffled on, talking about the control of emissions but yet when I asked a question he could not reply.
I will not allow a debate on the matter. I am calling Question No. 14.
The Minister could not give me a reply. He should read his brief.
The Deputy should have a bit of sense. I have read my brief.
I have called Question No. 14.
I resent the way the Minister handled the question. I asked him a supplementary question but it appears he was not in a position to answer it.
Question No. 14.