Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan, for coming to the House to address this important issue. The fire at the weekend at a waste recycling facility in Ballymount industrial estate in Dublin posed a major risk to people in the locality and across the south of the city. This incident underlines the need for stricter regulation of the waste collection industry and the storage and processing of that waste. It is timely that the Department's consultation on waste management is due to close this week. I will be making a submission as part of that process.

A question arises as to who is responsible for monitoring the operation of premises such as the Oxigen facility in Ballymount. It is a huge premises which seems now to have been an accident waiting to happen. Waste can be very dangerous if not stored properly. My understanding is that in the case of this facility, different types of combustible material were stored alongside each other.

That matter must be examined.

Does the licence issued by the EPA in respect of this plant deal specifically with the risk of fire there and with the air pollution which might be caused when a fire occurs? What is the position with regard to air quality in the locality at present? When the fire started, people were told to keep their windows and doors shut and remain inside. However, they want to know now whether it is safe to breath the air in the vicinity. There is massive concern about this matter. The privatisation of waste collection, etc., has given rise to an industry that is almost unregulated. The companies which operate within that industry are building huge facilities. It is important, therefore, that assurances should be given that the industry will be properly regulated by the Department and the agencies with responsibility in this area, such as the EPA.

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