Dáil debates

Wednesday, 8 March 2023

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages

 

4:57 pm

Photo of Jennifer WhitmoreJennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The project will cease. Its cessation being cast iron does not negate the need to have a sunset clause in this Bill, because the operation of this Bill only applies to the application. It is safe to say that once the EPA has granted that application, there is absolutely no reason it would need to retain these functions and powers for another two, three, four or however many years. I was a little bit more generous than Deputy Naughten. I gave an extra year in my sunset clause, but what has been said to us during the entirety of the briefings and discussions, which have been very short - that is a different argument altogether - is that the legislation is only for the energy security for 2023-24. It is bad practice to give an entity extraordinary powers for longer than is absolutely necessary. As these extraordinary powers with regard to the Environmental Protection Agency Act should only apply to the application and the granting of that application, once the EPA has done that job, it no longer needs the powers. I ask that the Minister consider putting a sunset clause in. I am agnostic as to the exact date, but the sunset clause should go in to show the intent that this is an emergency measure. It is a temporary measure and no one expects us to go beyond the necessary functioning of the Bill. I ask that the Minister considers that.

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