Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have a number of questions. The report on climate change issued last Sunday was very stark. I agree there is no doubt that there is a serious global problem and we are part of it. We have not had sight of the sectoral plans which state our ambition, or so we have been told. I presume the EPA will review them when they are issued. Ireland will miss the 2020 targets and we will be required to meet targets by 2030. Has the EPA a systematic plan for achieving the 2030 targets rather than waiting until 2028 and realising there is a problem that needs to be resolved quickly? It will be necessary to change behaviours as well as investing in public transport to deal with emissions and retrofitting our homes to save energy.

What is the EPA view on the Government's approach to the negotiations on agriculture? It seems the Government's obligation for reaching the target will be reduced. Will the 2030 targets be achievable if issues in the other sectors are dealt with?

I refer to two large wastewater treatment plants in Kildare which are of a high standard. They are worked very efficiently and the water is, by and large, from the Dublin region. The availability of water is on a knife edge and this could be improved if leakage were significantly addressed. Dublin appears to be one of the worst areas for leakages in the system.

I presume the EPA examines the quality of water going into these plants and that it examines the water quality in the river catchments to ensure the least level of intervention so that nothing is put in the water that may have a negative impact on public health. Does the EPA consider the issue of fluoride to be an environmental or health issue? Has the EPA a function in the use of fluoride in water?

Senator Mary Ann O'Brien has asked me to raise an issue on her behalf as she was unable to remain at the meeting. It is a concern of mine also and it is how the EPA licenses industrial processes. My experience is somewhat limited but I have the impression that the EPA works with the offender in many cases in an effort to nudge the offender towards compliance.

It may have been the case that some plants preceded the establishment of the EPA. Senator O'Brien has asked me to raise the matter of the Aughinish Alumina factory in Askeaton, County Limerick. The Haulbowline issue is similar where 500,000 tonnes of hazardous waste was removed and the bill was €40 million. It is estimated that there is a potential of 25 million tonnes of hazardous waste in Aughinish but there is no financial bond in place. The factory is located beside the Shannon and there could be major health, environmental and financial consequences for the State if a bond is not in place to cover that cost. Why would the EPA continue to grant licences in that scenario?

What kinds of protections does the agency put in place? In Kildare, we watched a mountain of waste grow until it went on fire. Remediation cost a small fortune. When one can predict an environmental and health hazard, why would one continue to grant the licence without at least addressing the potential damage financially, bearing in mind the experience of Haulbowline in Cork?