Vol. 510 No. 5
187 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he attended the meeting of the EU Environment Ministers on 24 to 25 June 1999 where the position on the proposed directive on incineration of hazardous and non-hazardous waste was agreed; and the Irish position on this directive. [23093/99]
I attended the European Council of Environment Ministers' meeting on 24 and 25 June 1999. At this meeting, political agreement was reached on a common position on a proposed directive on the incineration of waste, which aims to consolidate and extend the scope of existing directives relating to the incineration of municipal and hazardous wastes.
I strongly support the stringent operational controls and emission standards that are contained in this proposal, and look forward to its early adoption by the Community. The strict control regime which is provided for in the proposed directive has largely been anticipated under the integrated pollution control licensing system operated by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA may not grant an integrated licence unless, among other considerations, it is satisfied that the activity concerned will not endanger human health or harm the environment.
