Ms Laura Burke:

The key element for the EPA regarding the scheme is that the money is set aside. A technical assessment has to be done first to identify what is required, as Deputy Catherine Murphy has indicated. There then needs to be an examination of whether the costs are appropriate. That is the costing. The issue arises then of how to protect the money. From the perspective of the EPA, the money has to be sufficient, secure and available. We accept a number different types of financial provision, namely, a secured fund, an on-demand performance bond, a parental company guarantee, a charge on property or environmental impairment liability insurance. I should, however, be clear that we do not accept every type of fund for every type of liability. We would not accept a parental company guarantee or environmental insurance in the case of inevitable closure, for example. It would have to be a secured fund, an on-demand performance bond or a charge on property in that case. It all depends on the liability.