Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 23 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 7

Written Answers. - Production Technologies.

John Gormley

Ceist:

118 Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, she has to review the relevant national policy frameworks with a view to implementing reforms in order to foster cleaner production; the contribution, if any, her Depart ment has been making to the critical evaluation and dissemination of cleaner production options and programmes; the efforts, if any, made to date by her Department to develop and promote mechanisms aimed at accomplishing a shift from supply driven to demand driven cleaner pro duction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15259/98]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

There are a var iety of initiatives and programmes in place relat ing to the promotion of cleaner production tech nologies in industry. The integrated pollution control — IPC — licensing system, operated by the Environmental Protection Agency — EPA — requires the use of best available technology not entailing excessive cost — BATNEEC — and thereby seeks to ensure that the methods of oper ation and production should adhere to the best environmental standards.

The better environment awards for industry scheme, sponsored by Forbairt, encourages and gives recognition to the environmental achieve ment of Irish industry. This scheme provides awards in a variety of categories, managing for sustainable development, cleaner technologies, eco-design, partnership for sustainable develop ment and recovery of waste. In addition, Forbairt has supported the environmental initiative, which was established by the Clean Technology Centre, Cork Institute of Technology, and the cleaner production promotion unit — UCC — in associ ation with Dublin Institute of Technology and has the aim of advancing the competitiveness of Irish industry through environmental responsibility.

In addition, there are several initiatives under the auspices of the EU LIFE initiative. A pilot cleaner production and environmental manage ment system demonstration project was co-ordi nated by the Clean Technology Centre with the objectives of introducing cleaner project concepts to a number of SMEs, assisting and training com panies to carry out an environmental audit, and seeking opportunities for waste reduction and cleaner production. In addition, IBEC operates an Environmental Training Programme for Irish Industry under the LIFE initiative, which has been developed in collaboration with the EPA, An Taisce and the Clean Technology Centre. This training programme provides a comprehen sive training package for companies who wish to develop or update in-house expertise on environ mental issues.

A Cleaner Production Pilot Demonstration Programme, which is being managed by the EPA on behalf of the Department of the Envir onment and Local Government and the Euro pean Commission, seeks to promote environ mentally friendly production through the application of cleaner systems, techniques and-or technology. The programme is aimed primar ily at small and medium sized enterprises — SMEs — to help them operate in a more environmentally friendly manner and 14 com panies were selected to participate in this scheme. In these circumstances, I have no plans at present to review the implementation of cle aner production technologies.