Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In addition, the Deputy has made allegations that I cannot substantiate one way or the other that local authorities themselves are involved in illegal activities. In this respect, I go back to the points I made. The EPA has a supervising regulatory role in respect of local authorities and if there are instances of this nature, the EPA has enforcement powers. These powers include not only investigating but also issuing directions and taking prosecutions in respect of local authorities. Besides the obvious civil injury that may be involved, there is a route for these allegations to be presented to the EPA and for it to evaluate them, draw conclusions and exercise the powers available to it. There is a system in place. I cannot test the evidence one way or the other in respect of what the Deputy correctly described as allegations. It is not my job to evaluate them. There is a process whereby the attention of the EPA can be brought to any local authority believed to be transgressing its responsibilities and the EPA has the powers to pursue it. If the Deputy wants to present information, it would certainly be made available to the EPA for assessment.

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