Mr. Dara Lynott:

Under the current legislation, there are two separate operations, namely, the actual dredging and the dumping of the material. The EPA was only given responsibility for the dumping. Our permit process starts when the dredged material hits the boat and continues until the dredged material goes on to the seabed or where ever it ends up. If Dunmore East wanted to go for a dredging and dumping permit, it would have to go to the appropriate Minister, either the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government or the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and then to the EPA. It is dual consent. Under the proposed Bill, the application will just come to the EPA. However, there will still be a requirement for planning permission under the foreshore regulations and I know An Bord Pleanála was before this committee.