The Bill is an important and substantial addition to Ireland's environmental legislation and it signals my determination to ensure that the environment receives the protection it deserves. It completes the transposition into law of the EU Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control 1996. Integrated pollution control (IPC) licensing under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992, and waste licensing under the Waste Management Act 1996, have been administered by the EPA since 1994 and 1997 respectively. The licensing provisions of both Acts anticipated the provisions of the IPPC licensing directive and have delivered substantial compliance with it. IPC licensing has been implemented on a phased basis since 1994 and some 550 licences have been granted to date. These licences are in force across 13 economic sectors which have the potential, unless properly regulated, to cause significant pollution.